Nagpur: Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke on Tuesday alleged that people associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) were behind the attack on him in Jaipur a day earlier, claiming the incident was aimed at diverting attention from students’ concerns and silencing dissent.
Dipke arrived at Nagpur airport on Tuesday morning ahead of the CJP’s planned protest at Samvidhan Square, where the party was demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over allegations linked to the NEET (UG) paper leak, Siasat Daily reported.
The CJP founder was allegedly slapped several times by two men during a protest in Jaipur on Monday while his supporters were carrying him on their shoulders. Two youths have been detained in connection with the incident.
When asked about those responsible for the attack, Dipke alleged that some RSS members were involved and claimed that such actions were common whenever someone opposed the government or its ideology.
Responding to allegations that he had links with the RSS and had previously met Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Dipke questioned whether those claims were the reason behind the attack.
He alleged that the incident was an attempt to shift focus away from the NEET issue and suppress students’ voices. Dipke said the CJP would continue its protest peacefully and democratically and remain focused on what he described as the injustice faced by over one crore students.
He said he was not intimidated by such attacks and claimed that the movement followed the principles of Mahatma Gandhi and B R Ambedkar, describing it as a form of peaceful satyagraha.
Dipke appealed to students and young people in Nagpur to join the demonstration at Samvidhan Square. The CJP has been seeking Pradhan’s resignation over the NEET (UG) paper leak controversy.
Authorities have made extensive security arrangements ahead of the protest. Police officials said they were expecting the participation of more than 2,000 youths and had increased security at key locations in Nagpur.