‘It’s systemic murder’: CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke on MPSC candidate Prathamesh Deshmukh’s suicide | Today’s news
Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke on Thursday described MPSC aspirant Prathamesh Deshmukh’s suicide as a “murder by the system” and said the government must ensure that such incidents do not recur, PTI reported.
Dipke said people are seeking reservation because in his opinion the government has failed to provide quality education and job opportunities to the youth.
Deshmukh, 28, reportedly died by suicide in Pune. The note he left said he had a debt around ₹2.5 million, according to the report. Hailing from Paranda in Dharashiv, he lived in a rented accommodation in Pune’s Navi Peth area while preparing for the auditions.
Dipke visited Khasapuri village in Dharashiv on Thursday and met Deshmukh’s grieving family.
After speaking to reporters, Dipke said that Deshmukh had gone to Pune with the dream of securing a government job and helping his family overcome poverty.
“He borrowed money from friends to meet his expenses. But due to paper leaks and delayed results, pressure has increased on students. It (Deshmukh’s suicide) is the fault of the system and it is a murder by the system,” he said.
Dipke said Deshmukh took the extreme step after becoming frustrated with the system, unemployment and financial difficulties faced by youth in rural areas.
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“He used to eat only once a day”
According to Dipke, Deshmukh struggled to meet his expenses while living in Pune.
“Prathamesh stayed in Pune and used to eat only once a day due to his financial situation. According to his mother, Prathamesh said he would return home in a government car, but unfortunately an ambulance brought him here yesterday. His father has already passed away,” Dipke said.
He said MPSC aspirants from rural areas face difficulties in meeting the cost of living in cities like Pune.
“He (Deshmukh) borrowed ₹2 lakh up to ₹2.5 million from his friends… For such an amount, the young man had to end his life. This is the condition of our youth in rural areas as there is no employment,” Dipke said.
Dipke also criticized the functioning of the MPSC, alleging that examinations are not conducted properly, results are delayed or incorrect and paper leaks are taking place.
“How will rural youth survive in a city like Pune? How will they pay the money needed for library, food, rent and training? That is the question that haunts rural youth,” he said.
Dipke said Deshmukh spent four years in Pune preparing for the examination while also cutting back on his expenses.
“He left the village with the dream of becoming an officer, then how can he come back without clearing the exams? He did everything he could for that. He stayed there (in Pune) for four years as he cut his expenses. There are thousands of youngsters like him,” he said.
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Dipke links the demand for reservation with jobs, education
On the reservation issue, Dipke argued that people had lost faith in the government and hence sought a constitutional remedy.
“The government cannot provide good facilities. If they get good facilities, good schools and education and opportunities, why would anyone ask for reservation?” he said.
“People are asking for reservation because the government has completely failed to provide quality education and jobs. People have lost faith in the government, so they are looking for a constitutional remedy,” Dipke added.
CJP will join the agitation of MPSC aspirants
Dipke said that the CJP had earlier supported the MPSC aspirants’ agitation but will now participate in it.
“The government should be alert and incidents like (suicide) of Prathamesh should not be repeated as it cannot be tolerated anymore,” he said.
“Till now we have been supporting the MPSC aspirants who have been agitating. But what I have seen here today, we cannot allow such cases to happen again. That is why we have decided to join this agitation,” Dipke added.
