Abhijeet Dipke Alleges RSS Link Behind Jaipur Attack, Vows to Continue Student Rights Campaign
Cockroach Janta Party founder says the assault was meant to silence dissent and divert attention from student concerns over the NEET controversy.
Nagpur: Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke on Tuesday alleged that individuals linked to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh were behind the attack on him during a protest in Jaipur, claiming the incident was aimed at suppressing dissent and distracting from issues affecting students.
Speaking to reporters upon his arrival at Nagpur Airport ahead of a protest at Samvidhan Square, Dipke said the attack would not deter him from continuing his campaign over the alleged NEET UG paper leak controversy.
The incident took place on Monday in Jaipur, where Dipke was being carried on the shoulders of supporters during a demonstration when two men allegedly slapped him several times. Police have since detained two youths in connection with the case.
One of the accused, identified as Rajesh Gurjar, later defended his actions and accused Dipke of attempting to divide the country under the guise of public service. Gurjar described himself as a nationalist and denied having any connection to a political party.
When asked who he believed was responsible for the attack, Dipke claimed that some of the individuals involved were associated with the RSS. He said such incidents occur whenever people speak against the government or challenge its ideology.
Dipke alleged that the assault was intended to shift public attention away from concerns raised by students affected by examination irregularities. He maintained that his movement would continue through peaceful and democratic means.
“We will not be distracted from our cause. No matter how many attacks take place, we will continue our protest peacefully. We follow the path of Mahatma Gandhi and Dr B R Ambedkar. Our focus remains on the injustice faced by more than one crore students, and Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan must take responsibility,” he said.
Cockroach Janta Party spokesperson Saurav Das also condemned the attack, describing it as a cowardly act. He alleged that those responsible had political links to the BJP and RSS.
Das said the party was exercising its constitutional right to dissent and demand accountability. He added that violence and intimidation would not silence legitimate public concerns.
The incident also drew reactions from political leaders and public figures. Former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal strongly condemned the attack, stating that disagreement with Dipke’s views could never justify violence. He further alleged that the attackers were connected to a political party and questioned whether any action would be taken against them.
Senior advocate Ashish Gehlot also criticised the assault, calling it shameful and saying that peaceful protests should never be met with physical violence. He questioned why peaceful demonstrations appeared to provoke such strong reactions from their opponents.
Meanwhile, Dipke appealed to students and young people in Nagpur to join the protest scheduled at Samvidhan Square at 4 pm on Tuesday. The Cockroach Janta Party continues to demand the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the alleged NEET UG paper leak issue.
Authorities said extensive security arrangements had been made for the gathering, with police expecting more than 2,000 participants. Security has also been increased at key locations across Nagpur ahead of the demonstration.