Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar: Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke will receive official security cover once he returns home, Maharashtra minister Sanjay Shirsat assured his parents on Sunday.
Shirsat was the first leader from the Mahayuti government in Maharashtra to visit the family since Dipke launched his agitation at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. The protest was called off on Saturday after Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan tendered his resignation.
“Abhijeet will return to his hometown in the next two to three days. When he arrives in Maharashtra, I will personally make a special request to chief minister Devendra Fadnavis to provide him with official security so that no threat is posed to his life,” the Shiv Sena leader said after meeting Dipke’s parents at their Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar home, as reported by The Indian Express.
The Maharashtra government had drawn fire from students and political leaders after a leader from a Mahayuti alliance partner described the protesters as terrorists. Dipke had also condemned the comments.
“We have family relations with the Dipke family. I did not visit during the protests to ensure the matter was not given a political turn. Now, I have come to inquire about Abhijeet’s health, and the government will take proper care of him,” Shirsat, who is also the district guardian minister for Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, said.
Dipke’s father Bhagwan sounded satisfied with the minister’s explanation and said: “During the protests, many leaders called me and visited our home. But I kept wondering why the guardian minister – with whom I worked for 15 years-was neither visiting nor calling me. However, he came personally today and answered that question.”
“The minister’s reasoning that coming here during the protest would have led to political capitalisation felt right to me. I am very happy that he visited our home today. Abhijeet will return in two to three days, and it will be appropriate to discuss the future direction and stance of the movement only after he arrives,” he added.
The minister accused Opposition parties of trying to take advantage of the CJP’s agitation, while claiming that the movement succeeded because of the Centre’s “very positive stance”.
“However, through this protest and Abhijeet, many political leaders and parties worked to bake their own political potatoes. In the INDI Alliance, there was a race ongoing among members to claim credit for the Delhi protests,” Shirsat added.
