Cockroach Janta Partyrules out electoral entry

PTI

Nagpur

Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder and activist Abhijeet Dipke on Tuesday ruled out entering electoral politics, asserting that citizens should not be forced to contest elections simply to demand their basic rights.

Addressing a press conference ahead of a major nationwide demonstration here, Dipke targeted the Centre for failing to reach out to the country’s youth following the widespread NEET-UG paper leak controversy.

The CJP, a satirical collective that has rapidly transitioned into a political movement, organised a massive demonstration at Samvidhan Square where hundreds of youths and students, many wearing cockroach masks and holding placards, gathered to demand the immediate resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, just days ahead of the scheduled medical entrance re-examination.

When asked if the CJP planned to contest future elections, Dipke questioned the premise, saying, “Why should we contest elections? If everyone in this country has to contest elections to demand their rights, how will it work?”

Turning his focus to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Dipke said he must first apologise to the families of the five or six students who reportedly committed suicide in the aftermath of the exam’s irregularities and subsequent cancellations.

“Pradhan Mantri ji tweets if anything happens across the world, but here, students of this country are committing suicide, and there is not even a condolence tweet for them. How long will you talk about your ‘Mann ki Baat’ and ‘Pariksha pe Charcha’? At least listen to the students’ Mann ki Baat,” Dipke said, adding that regular interaction would help the government understand and solve student grievances.

He also defended the role of public agitation, reacting to critics who have compared the group’s mobilisation to recent unrest in neighbouring countries.

“India is a country that was liberated through protests. It remains a democracy because of the protest. It is sustained by protest, and it is a very good thing for a healthy democracy,” he said.

The demonstration site became a flashpoint when a group wearing saffron stoles arrived at Samvidhan Square, chanting “Jai Shri Ram,” confronted the demonstrators, and accused the CJP of misleading the youth.

They alleged that “urban Naxals” had infiltrated the gathering to raise anti-RSS slogans, leading to heated verbal clashes between both sides before security personnel intervened.