CJP Suspends Spokesperson Vijeta Dahiya After Viral Burger Video Sparks Controversy

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has removed its spokesperson Vijeta Dahiya from his post after a viral burger video controversy triggered a major online backlash. The action came after videos allegedly showed Dahiya at a Burger King outlet near the protest site during the party’s “Chalo Sansad” march in Delhi, while protesters were facing police action during the demonstration.

CJP said it strongly condemned Dahiya’s actions, calling them “deeply insensitive” and “unacceptable”. The party said the videos surfaced at a time when peaceful protesters and its team were facing what it described as brutal police violence, adding that such conduct showed a “complete lack of judgment” and did not represent the principles of the movement.

The controversy began after a young man recorded a video confronting Dahiya at the food outlet. In the clip, the person questioned why Dahiya was eating a burger when protesters were on the streets and asked why he was not present at the front lines of the protest after encouraging people to participate.

The video quickly went viral, with critics accusing the spokesperson of being absent when tensions escalated during the protest. However, supporters of Dahiya argued that the clip did not provide the complete context and questioned whether a short break during a long protest should become the main issue.

Responding to the criticism, Dahiya released a clarification video on his social media account. He said he had been working with the movement for around one and a half months, had participated in earlier protests, and had barely slept for several days due to his involvement.

Dahiya said he had joined the march, but after believing the protest activity had ended, he went home to freshen up before returning. Defending his decision to stop for food, he questioned why eating a burger had become the focus of attention.

“I was hungry, so I ate,” Dahiya said while responding to the criticism. He also questioned the accountability debate, saying he was not an elected representative and was participating in the movement voluntarily.

In another clarification, Dahiya said that while he initially defended eating the burger, he later decided not to consume it after learning it contained refined flour and trans fats. He also said previous criticism over his protest style, including his dancing and colourful clothing, was distracting attention from the larger issues raised by the movement.

Meanwhile, the CJP Instagram handle addressed the controversy and acknowledged that the party had made mistakes during the protest. The party said it would learn from the incident, ensure such mistakes were not repeated, and improve coordination during future demonstrations.

CJP also said it wanted to communicate with injured protesters and hear their concerns following the protest clashes. The party indicated that accountability and better planning would be prioritised going forward.

The controversy also became a subject of online humour, with social media users sharing memes and joking that CJP’s action against Dahiya happened so quickly that it came even before discussions around the Dharmendra Pradhan resignation buzz could develop, adding another viral twist to the political conversation.

Following the backlash, CJP officially relieved Vijeta Dahiya of spokesperson duties, distancing itself from the controversy and attempting to restore confidence among supporters.