New Delhi, July 21: Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke on Tuesday questioned the government’s design behind starting talks with his outfit, saying it was engaging in dialogue with CJP while simultaneously carrying out a police crackdown on protesters.
“The government wasted our time. They invited our delegation. They seized their mobiles. Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das were, in a way, under house arrest at J P Nadda’s residence,” Dipke said addressing supporters at Jantar Mantar, where the protest over the NEET paper leak issue entered its 32nd day.
“The whole plan was to scatter the team, so that when there is chaos, no one is there. That is why they kept them sitting for five hours and wasted our time. You call for talks on one hand, and unleash batons on students on the other hand,” he alleged.
The Centre has not responded to the allegations.
In the first direct contact between the Centre and agitating CJP, Union Health Minister JP Nadda on Monday held talks with two representatives of the outfit and assured that the government leadership will hold internal discussions on their demands, after thousands of protesters tried to march to Parliament but were prevented by police.
According to the CJP, the assurance came after its spokespersons Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das met Nadda, who acted as a government emissary, twice within two hours at the minister’s residence and submitted a memorandum citing their demands, including the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged examination irregularities.
“The only assurance we got is that he will talk to the leadership and share the conclusions,” Ranka had told PTI Videos after the meeting.
On Tuesday, the protest continued at the Jantar Mantar here under heavy security a day after the police action.
Dipke also said that activist Sonam Wangchuk had agreed to end his indefinite hunger strike after sustained persuasion by fellow protesters but decided to continue it after witnessing the police crackdown on the “Sansad Chalo” march.
Protesters retained the stage at the site, placing a photograph of Wangchuk alongside a copy of the Constitution, the Ramcharitmanas, a charkha and a small Buddha statue.
Dipke said Wangchuk’s continued fast had become a matter of serious concern.
Wangchuk has been on a hunger strike since June 28. He was forcibly shifted to Safdarjung Hospital by Delhi Police on July 18 and has continued his indefinite fast.
Prakash Ambedkar calls for ‘bandh’ on July 23
Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) chief Prakash Ambedkar on Tuesday appealed to people to observe a statewide bandh on July 23 in protest against the Centre’s education policies and the alleged police action against students and supporters during the CJP-led ongoing agitation in Delhi. The bandh would be observed across Maharashtra, he said, urging people to participate in it.
Ambedkar said he had not discussed the proposed bandh with any political leaders in the state.
AISA alleges police brutality during march
The All India Students’ Association (AISA) on Tuesday alleged that the Delhi Police used excessive force against students during the ‘Sansad Chalo’ march a day earlier, and demanded action against those responsible.
AISA alleged that peaceful demonstrators were lathi-charged and assaulted by police while attempting to march towards Parliament.
Families unable to contact students detained
Families of students detained during the Cockroach Janta Party protest in Delhi said they had been unable to contact them for hours and did not know whether any charges had been filed, as concerns mounted over the whereabouts of those detained.
Young woman injured amid protest on ventilator
A 23-year-old female student injured during the police action at the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest a day ago here is on ventilator support at the Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital, sources said on Tuesday.
A family member said Sakshi sustained injuries to her face, chest and neck and is admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). (PTI)
