Mumbai: A day after spearheading a mega protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke looked to broadbase his movement by focusing on an important issue like unemployment.
In what was clearly a criticism of the BJP, Dipke said that politics centred on a Hindu-Muslim agenda doesn’t really address pressing concerns like unemployment, reported PTI.
“We are seeing that the country’s politics has moved to the Hindu-Muslim agenda in the past 10-12 years. This issue can’t provide jobs. We need to shift that focus, and the government’s priorities should also change,” he said at a press conference in his hometown Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.
He stressed that the ‘cockroaches’ agitation will continue beyond the demand for Pradhan’s resignation.
“After Dharmendra Pradhan resigns, we will prepare an agenda for bringing changes in the education system. This will not end here because employment is also a key issue in the country,” Dipke announced.
Responding to criticism against the protest, Dipke pointed at the large turnout.
“A huge crowd at Jantar Mantar and photographs speak about the people. How many people will they label as Pakistanis? Will they call the agitating students, the Opposition and media asking questions as Pakistanis?” Dipke questioned.
The Boston-educated man rejected comparisons between his movement and youth-led protests and regime changes seen in countries like Nepal and Bangladesh.
“Because, here (in India) there is a system. Those who compare our movement with the ones that occurred in neighbouring countries should know that the Jantar Mantar was very peaceful. Youth who attended the agitation came from all corners of the country,” Dipke said.
He claimed that the upcoming agitations will be organised on a larger scale but will remain peaceful.
Some political leaders and organisations have expressed support for the CJP, but Dipke insisted that the movement will remain independent.
“We have not spoken to leaders of any political party. This movement is for Gen Z. Those who want to support us can support us externally, but we will not associate ourselves with any political party,” he said.
