CJP’s Abhijeet Dipke faints during sit-in at Jantar Mantar after protest march: Video | Today’s news
Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke fainted briefly during a sit-in at Jantar Mantar following a protest march to Parliament that saw thousands of protesters demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged irregularities in competitive exams.
Dipke was accompanied by other protesters and CJP spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka. He broke his hunger strike today after the CJP said the father of NEET student Riya Thapa, who died by suicide, convinced him to end it and lead a march to Parliament.
What did Dipke say, Angmo
The CJP alleged that the Delhi Police used excessive force against the protesters during their ‘Sansad Chalo’ march, alleging that several students were injured and that activist Sonam Wangchuk’s wife, Gitanjali J. Angmo, was manhandled. The organization continued its protest with a sit-in near Kerala House after the police dismantled the stage at Jantar Mantar.
The charges followed police action to disperse protesters who were attempting to march towards parliament and clear the protest site. In the evening, CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke, spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das along with Angma remained at the meeting near Kerala House saying that the agitation would continue despite the police intervention.
“The police were absolutely brutal. Many of the students protesting here had their skulls smashed. Even a 15-year-old girl was brutally beaten by a policeman. The policeman even tried to grab Sonam Wangchuk’s wife Gitanjali Angmo by her hair. They even tried to choke her and pull her out of the pace,” Dipke said.
Addressing the rally, Angmo said the movement had gained the support of an estimated 25 million young people, which she described as a reflection of growing concern over the state of the country’s education system.
“This shows that our education system, education policy and overall governance in the sector is deeply flawed and affects every young person. The government must listen to their concerns as soon as possible. Good governance means listening to the voices of young people and addressing this matter promptly,” she said.
She also said that activist Sonam Wangchuk, who is on hunger strike at Safdarjung Hospital, has set three conditions to end the fast. According to Angma, these include Pradhan’s resignation, assurances from cabinet ministers and members of parliament that education-related issues will be discussed during the ongoing monsoon session, and government action on a memorandum submitted by protesters raising concerns from the alleged NEET paper leak to the state of government schools.
“Only if these assurances are given, Sonam will end her fast,” Angmo declared.
Reportedly, 100 people were detained, over 50 police officers and protesters were injured
Meanwhile, more than 50 policemen and protesters were injured during clashes linked to CJP demonstrations in New Delhi district on Sunday, PTI reported citing police sources, prompting authorities to launch a massive security operation. Its sources added that around 100 people have been detained while 65 medico-legal cases have been registered at Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in connection with the incident.
