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Fresh off leading a high-decibel protest over the NEET paper leaks, Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke now finds himself targeted over the funding for his studies abroad, which he asserted was facilitated through a scholarship and an education loan. In an exclusive interview with PTI at his home in Maharashtra's Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar on Monday, Dipke also dismissed exiled Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasreen's comment drawing a parallel between the CJP's Delhi protest against exam irregularities and the 2024 stir that ousted Sheikh Hasina's Awami League regime. "Protests in Bangladesh, Nepal are being used to defame us; we are different," he asserted. He remained unfazed by the Right to Information (RTI) query into his educational expenses and finances, insisting that he has not faced any personal attacks so far. A Surat-based RTI activist on Saturday said he had sought a probe into the finances of Dipke's father, a retired government employee who sent his son abr
As the protest over paper leak at Jantar Mantar entered its seventh week on Friday, the movement that began with students is increasingly drawing support from an unlikely quarter -- senior citizens, who say they have joined the agitation because the issue concerns the future of the country's youth. Amid hundreds of Gen Z protesters camping at the site, people in their 50s, 60s and even 70s were seen sitting alongside students, raising slogans, attending meetings and lending support to the demand for reforms in public examinations. Dev Nath Maurya, a 64-year-old farmer from Uttar Pradesh's Raebareli, said he travelled for nearly 12 hours with a group of around 30 people to reach the national capital. "We have not come here for today; we have come here for this country's future. These young kids are our future. What face will I show to my grandchildren when they ask what I was doing while the young ones were trying to bring education reforms?" Maurya told PTI. Ram Avtaar, also in his
The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has said the "strictest action" the government could take against examination irregularities was to remove Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, reacting to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's announcement that a bill providing for stringent action against paper leaks would be introduced in Parliament. CJP national spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka, in response to the prime minister's remarks, said, "Modi ji, remove Dharmendra Pradhan tomorrow. That's the strictest action you can take." CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke also reacted to the prime minister's announcement by taking to X to share an image of a man locking the gate of a compound with no boundary walls, in an apparent swipe at the proposed legislation. Prime Minister Modi announced on Thursday that a bill providing for strong action against paper leaks would be introduced in Parliament next week after being cleared by the Union Cabinet. He said the government had already taken several steps after ...
The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) said it was "relieved and grateful" that activist Sonam Wangchuk had ended his 26-day hunger strike, but asserted that its peaceful protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar would continue until Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigns. In a post on X, CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke thanked Wangchuk for his "extraordinary courage and sacrifice". "We are relieved and grateful that Sonam sir has ended his hunger strike after 26 days. Thank you, sir, for your extraordinary courage and sacrifice. By putting your own life on the line, you awakened the conscience of an entire nation. Your life is far too precious to this country," Dipke said. He added, "The Cockroach Janta Party's peaceful protest at Jantar Mantar will continue until Dharmendra Pradhan resigns." Wangchuk ended his indefinite hunger strike late on Thursday after the Centre assured him that it would not initiate action against peaceful protesters and would consider his key demands regarding ..
The Supreme Court on Wednesday declined a request for urgent listing of a plea challenging the police action against students during the Cockroach Janta Party-led protest march in Delhi. The matter was mentioned before a bench comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana. "I have the videos as well regarding police brutality... If it can be listed tomorrow (Thursday)... students are there," the lawyer said. He said that students had allegedly been subjected to police brutality during the protest and said the petition contained three prayers. The CJI declined the request and made it clear that the bench was not inclined to examine video footage at the mentioning stage. "We are not interested in videos, we don't have time to watch... We don't want to watch videos," the CJI said. When the counsel reiterated that students had been beaten up and again referred to the video evidence, the CJI said, "Don't waste our time. We don't want to w
High security arrangements will remain in place in the Lutyens' Delhi area as the city police gears up for separate protests by the CJP and the Youth Congress in the New Delhi and Central districts, official sources said. A multi-layered security arrangement will be put in place around Connaught Place, Jantar Mantar, Rafi Marg, Parliament Street and other sensitive locations to maintain law and order and prevent any untoward incident, the source said. Additional police and paramilitary personnel will be deployed at key intersections and vulnerable points, while anti-riot units, quick reaction teams and reserve forces will remain on standby. Barricades have already been erected at strategic locations, and surveillance through CCTV cameras and other monitoring systems have been intensified, he said. Traffic restrictions are likely to be imposed around Connaught Place, Jantar Mantar, Rafi Marg and adjoining roads depending on the movement of protesters. Traffic police will regulate ..
The Centre has ordered deployment of 20 additional companies of the CRPF in Delhi to strengthen security measures in view of the CJP protests and demonstrations by various political parties, officials said on Wednesday. The forces, all drawn from the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), are being airlifted from West Bengal after the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) ordered their immediate deployment in the national capital on Tuesday night. A total of 20 CRPF companies are being airlifted from Kolkata to be deployed in Delhi to strengthen the law and order in view of the CJP protests, demonstrations by various political parties and the ongoing Parliament session, official sources in the security establishment told PTI. Multiple instances of violent clashes during the latest protests have necessitated this immediate deployment, they said. They said these companies were deployed in West Bengal for the conduct of assembly elections held there a few months back and were asked to stay put
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi must apologise to students for the police brutality against them and resign along with Home Minister Amit Shah. Speaking with reporters in Parliament House complex, Gandhi said he met Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla in the morning along with other MPs and conveyed that the opposition wants to discuss the students issue. "He (Birla) said he will have to ask the government. So, the Speaker is telling us that to debate in Parliament he has to take permission from the government," Gandhi said. "The issue is of students and the way people are being beaten up, this is completely 'unIndian'. Modi ji has not even apologised for what has happened yesterday," the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha said. These students are protesting over the education and testing system, he said. "The whole country knows that the education system and the testing system is broken and has ceased to exist," he said. Thousands of
The Delhi High Court on Tuesday refused to urgently list a petition concerning the city police's use of "excessive force" against students who took part in the Cockroach Janta Party's protest march to Parliament. "Don't drag the court into all this," a bench of Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia told the petitioner. The bench said the matter will be listed for hearing on Wednesday. The petitioner mentioned the plea before the bench for an urgent hearing, stating that Delhi Police personnel used "excessive force" on the protesters. Thousands joined the Cockroach Janta Party's (CJP) "Chalo Sansad" march on Monday to demand the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged examination irregularities. The CJP accused Delhi Police of using excessive force against protesters to prevent them from reaching Parliament, alleging that several students were injured and activist Sonam Wangchuk's wife Gitanjali J Angmo was pushed around. Delhi Police,
The Congress on Tuesday said the police action against protesters during the "Sansad Chalo" march over irregularities in examinations is a "shameful chapter" in the list of injustices inflicted upon the youth by the government. The opposition party warned that those who beat the country's youth under orders from people in power will one day have to face the "lathi" of the Constitution. Opposition parties had launched a blistering attack on the government over the police action against the Cockroach Janta Party-led "Sansad Chalo" march, with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday dubbing Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the "most anti-youth" prime minister in the country's history. The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) accused the Delhi Police of using excessive force against protesters to prevent them from reaching Parliament, alleging that several students were injured and activist Sonam Wangchuk's wife Gitanjali J Angmo was pushed around. Delhi Police, however, denied that Angmo was ...
More than 118 police personnel, including several senior officers, were injured and around 70 protesters were detained on Monday, as Cockroach Janta Party's (CJP) "Sansad Chalo" protest march turned violent in the New Delhi area, police said. Delhi Police released a statement mentioning these figures and their account, accusing protesters of displaying "unruly, aggressive and violent behaviour" during the protest and attacking security personnel, damaging government vehicles and public property. "During today's protest by CJP in the New Delhi area, the protesters displayed unruly, aggressive and violent behaviour. Despite repeated warnings and lawful directions issued by the police, they refused to disperse and deliberately violated the prohibitory orders in force," read the police statement. The protesters attacked police personnel with stones and other objects, attempted to breach police barricades, vandalised police and other government vehicles, damaged public property, and ...
Several protesters were detained and removed from multiple locations across the New Delhi district on Monday as forces stepped up action to prevent demonstrators from assembling and marching towards Parliament, sources said. Detentions were made from areas such as Mandi House, Patel Chowk, Janpath, Jantar Mantar, Parliament Street and other key locations where the protesting groups attempted to gather despite heightened security arrangements and prohibitory orders being in force, they said. At least seven people were detained near the Reserve Bank of India, close to Parliament. Those detained were being taken to different locations across the national capital, away from the protest site, to prevent them from regrouping and disrupting law and order, sources said. They will be released after being issued warnings, a source said, adding that police would verify the antecedents of those detained to ascertain whether any of them had previous criminal records. Security remained tight ac
Delhi Police used sticks and batons to disperse hundreds of students and youth activists marching from Mandi House Metro Station towards Jantar Mantar in an attempt to reach the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest site on Monday, eyewitnesses said. The protesters, including a large number of women, raised slogans against the Centre while proceeding towards Jantar Mantar. Heavy deployment of Delhi Police personnel was seen in the area as police sought to prevent the march from advancing. There was no immediate official statement from the police on the reported use of force or any detentions.
Activist Sonam Wangchuk's vital parameters are stable but his blood parameters require close clinical observation, Safdarjung Hospital authorities said on Monday. The hospital said Wangchuk remains under continuous medical management and under the close supervision of a multidisciplinary team of experts. "Sonam Wangchuk continues to receive comprehensive medical care at VMMC & Safdarjung Hospital. His vital parameters remain stable. Blood parameters continue to warrant close clinical observation. Wangchuk remains under continuous medical management and the close supervision of a multidisciplinary team of experts," the health bulletin issued by the hospital at 10 am said. "Based on the clinical assessment of the treating teams from VMMC & Safdarjung Hospital and AIIMS, New Delhi, continued medical intervention and uninterrupted clinical monitoring remain necessary to ensure early detection and timely management of any potential complications. He is receiving all required ...
Delhi Police is on high alert ahead of the Monsoon Session of Parliament and the Cockroach Janta Party's (CJP) proposed "Chalo Sansad" march on Monday, with heavy deployment of personnel visible at every nook and corner around Jantar Mantar, Parliament and other key locations. Authorities have also imposed prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the BNSS in the New Delhi district. The heightened vigil comes as the CJP announced the march in protest against alleged NEET irregularities and to demand the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Sachin Sharma shared a public advisory on X on Sunday, stating that "Delhi Police categorically clarifies that no permission has been sought or granted for any such protest march/procession." The prohibitory order under Section 163 BNSS (formerly Section 144 CrPC) is currently in effect in the New Delhi district, according to the DCP's post. "Accordingly, protest marches, processions, ...
The Delhi High Court on Tuesday ordered unblocking of the Cockroach Janta Party's X handle, which was withheld in May. Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma passed the judgement on a petition filed by Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke against the Centre's blocking order. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta submitted that the CJP's social media handle was blocked to avoid "chaos" among students and parents ahead of the June 21 NEET re-test. "Since NEET is already over, the primary concern is no longer of any relevance. In these circumstances, the order is revoked. The petition is allowed," Justice Sharma ordered. The original X handle of the CJP, which started as a satirical digital outfit on May 15 following a controversy over Chief Justice of India Surya Kant's remarks, was withheld in India on May 21. Soon after, the group resurfaced with a new handle, 'Cockroach is Back', which presently has over 2,27,000 followers. The movement has drawn attention for its unconventional ...
Security was intensified across Delhi on Saturday, with police deploying additional personnel at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport, border entry points, and other sensitive locations ahead of a proposed protest call by the digital outfit Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), officials said. Earlier this month, CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke called on supporters and students to join his protest in Delhi. He also urged supporters to join him at the Delhi airport on June 6. Sources said police have not received any formal request seeking permission for the proposed protest, but are making security arrangements based on inputs available through social media monitoring and other channels. More than 1,000 police personnel have been earmarked for deployment across the New Delhi district and other strategic locations as part of preventive security measures, sources said. Security arrangements have been strengthened at the IGI Airport, major railway stations, inter-state bus terminals, and .
Abhijeet Dipke, founder of the online movement Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), arrived in Delhi on Saturday ahead of a planned demonstration at Jantar Mantar, and urged supporters to maintain discipline and ensure that the protest remains peaceful. Activist Sonam Wangchuk, who has also expressed support for the protest, stated that he would undertake a six-week fast if Dipke is arrested. In a post on X, Dipke expressed excitement about meeting supporters at Jantar Mantar and encouraged them to bring a book and the national flag. He also urged participants to offer flowers to police personnel as a "gesture of compassion and gratitude," emphasising that the movement should be led with "love and peace." "Landed. Looking forward to meeting you all at Jantar Mantar. Do not forget to carry a book and our Tiranga! Offer flowers to policemen as a gesture of compassion & gratitude. We have to lead this movement with love and peace!" he said. The protest has been organised by the CJP, a ...