Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) founder Abhijit Dipke has sharply and directly retorted to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’s “anarchist” remark. After leading a massive protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged irregularities in the NEET exam, Dipke returned to his hometown of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. Addressing the media, he clearly stated that calling those who, within democratic frameworks, raise their voices for students’ rights and question the government as anarchists is completely wrong and undemocratic.
Abhijit Dipke advised Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to introspect on his statement. He explained that he had carried a book by Constitution maker Babasaheb Ambedkar with him during the Delhi protests. He questioned the Chief Minister whether following Babasaheb’s progressive ideas and chanting “Jai Bhim” for rights constitutes anarchy. He sarcastically remarked that Devendra Fadnavis is the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, not Uttar Pradesh, and should remember that Maharashtra has always been a land of reformist, secular, and progressive ideas. Without naming the Bharatiya Janata Party, he alleged that for the past ten years, only Hindu-Muslim politics has been fueled in the country, resulting in neither employment opportunities for the youth nor improvement in the education system.
Deepak also strongly objected to the mentality of labeling political opponents and those who expose the government’s shortcomings as traitors or Pakistan supporters. He questioned that whenever a citizen or student protests the government’s wrong policies, they are labeled Pakistani. Sometimes I, sometimes impartial journalists, and sometimes opposition leaders are labeled outsiders. In such a situation, the government should clarify who is a real Indian. Do only those associated with the BJP and its IT cell have received the certificate of Indianness in this country? He said that in a democracy, dissent should be respected and asking questions is every citizen’s constitutional right.
Deepak criticized Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged irregularities in the NEET exam. He stated that the future of millions of promising students in the country is at stake, and that the fight will not end until the Union Education Minister, responsible for this entire chaos, resigns from his post. Describing the protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi as a complete success, he claimed that more than six to seven thousand people had gathered there. He announced that since the government has not yet met their main demands, this movement will no longer be limited to Delhi alone, but will soon be transformed into a major nationwide movement, with dates to be announced.
Abhijit Dipke recently returned to India from Boston, USA, and immediately after his return, he went straight to Delhi to lead the student movement. When he arrived at his home in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar early Sunday morning, he was given a warm welcome by his supporters and family. Meanwhile, in view of his increasing political activism and the sensitive atmosphere, the local administration has tightened his security arrangements. According to a senior police officer, a tight security force of about 15 policemen has been deployed at his residence in the Waluj MIDC area.
