'People have lost faith in politics': CJP chief Abhijeet Dipke rules out forming party

'People have lost faith in politics': CJP chief Abhijeet Dipke rules out forming party

Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke has ruled out turning the protest group into a political party, saying the loss of public faith in political institutions makes a broader people's movement more relevant.

Speaking to ANI on Monday, Dipke said the CJP had no immediate plans to enter electoral politics and argued that the current political environment did not justify forming another political outfit.

"We have no such intention. We are seeing how political parties are being split using the ED and CBI. Votes are being deleted in elections. At this point, when people have lost faith in politics, what will we do by forming a political party?" Dipke said.

He added that concerns over public confidence extended beyond politics.

"The way people are losing faith in the judiciary, election system and even the media, this country needs a public movement," he said.

The CJP founder, however, warned that the group could return to protest if the Centre does not act on assurances given to the movement. He claimed that families of NEET-UG aspirants who died by suicide had not yet received the Rs 1 crore compensation sought by the protesters.

"We want the government to do this (fulfil the demands agreed upon); otherwise, we will have to sit in protest again," Dipke said.

He alleged that the government had cited rules and norms while considering the compensation demand.

"When you have to buy MPs/MLAs, you spend crores of rupees, but to give compensation, you need to first check the rules. It means their intention is not right," he said.

The demand for financial assistance was among the key demands raised by the CJP during its 37-day protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar. The group had also sought the resignation of then Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and the withdrawal of FIRs registered against protesters.

The CJP ended its protest on July 25 after Pradhan resigned and the group said it had received assurances on its other demands. Dipke, however, said the organisation did not support the appointment of Pralhad Joshi as the new Education Minister.

"Our demand was the resignation of the Education Minister, and it was met. But in place of him, who was made the Education Minister? It was Pralhad Joshi. We do not support this," he said.

Dipke also alleged that the July 20 violence during the protest had been pre-planned and accused Delhi Police of colluding with unidentified individuals to discredit the movement. These allegations have not been independently established.

"I have been saying since the beginning of our movement that some people from outside will be sent to create disturbance during the protest, to defame the protest, and those belonging to CJP will be accused," he said.

He further alleged that the presence of a truck carrying rocks and a damaged van near the protest site before the incident indicated prior planning.

"On July 19, Delhi Police stationed a truck full of rocks behind the stage at Jantar Mantar. What was the reason behind it? A damaged van was also parked there before July 20. The next day, news came that there was stone pelting at the protest. Delhi Police had already planned this," Dipke claimed.

The CJP founder also questioned how such an incident could take place under the Union Home Ministry and accused the Delhi Police of failing to prevent violence at the protest site. Opposition parties have separately sought answers from Union Home Minister Amit Shah over the police action against protesters.

Dipke also responded to criticism of the CJP movement, including RSS leader Atul Limaye's description of the protest as "anti-national". He hit back by referring to Nathuram Godse's assassination of Mahatma Gandhi.

On the possibility of contesting elections, Dipke said the CJP would instead focus on building a wider public movement. He also said the organisation supported the ongoing student protests in Jharkhand and would visit the state once his health improved.

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