Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar

Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke on Wednesday said the government should stop harassing the students who participated in the protests seeking Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation, and sought action against the person who ordered the use of pellet guns against the protesters at Jantar Mantar.

The youth will "change the government" if the government did not fall in line, he said.

"Whether it be Amit Shah (or anyone else), action should be taken against the person who gave orders to fire pellet guns," said Dipke who arrived in his hometown, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, after the month-long nationwide agitation led by the CJP over the NEET paper leak issue culminated in Education Minister Pradhan's resignation.

Speaking to reporters at the airport, he said he was looking forward to meeting his parents. ''I am coming home after almost 40 days. Since I arrived in India, protests were going on. Then I was at Jantar Mantar in Delhi for almost 36 days. The agitation turned out to be successful and the country's students won...I have come here and I am happy that I am going to meet my parents," he said.

Governments in many states were harassing the students who took part in the protests, he alleged.

"The government should conduct itself well now. The blood of students was spilled on the streets on July 20 (during the march to Parliament). It was really bad. Wasn't it enough that the students are still being troubled? In many states, police are visiting the houses of students and threatening to arrest them," he claimed.

"These students are not terrorists. They are the future of our country. If the future of the country is troubled in such a way, then just as Dharmendra Pradhan had to step down....tomorrow, we will go and change the government if it did not fall in line," the CJP founder said.

To a question, he said Prime Minister Narendra Modi should resign and become an influencer, "something he is very good at".

The government should not presume that the students' anger has subsided after Pradhan's exit, he said, adding, "If needed, we will launch a fresh agitation on a much bigger scale."

The CJP leader visited the statue of Dr B R Ambedkar near Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University to pay respects to the chief architect of the Constitution before heading to his house in Waluj MIDC area.

Talking to reporters at his home later, he questioned the use of pellet guns in Delhi.

''What was the reason for using pellet guns? Pellet guns should not be used against anyone. They (students) are citizens of our country and not terrorists. Whether it be (Union Home Minister) Amit Shah, action should be taken against the person who gave orders to fire pellet guns," Dipke said.

Asked about the celebration by CJP volunteers following Pradhan's resignation, which was criticised in some quarters, Dipke said there was nothing wrong with it.

''The volunteers were sitting in the harsh sun and in the rain for thirty-six days. What is wrong (with celebrating) after such a big victory. What does the BJP do after winning elections? The volunteers did not block roads like the BJP people do,'' he said.

''Did the BJP not feel any shame in felicitating Dharmendra Pradhan in Parliament after students had committed suicide,'' Dipke further asked.

When asked whether the CJP would launch another agitation, Dipke said the government was forcing it to do so.

"The government is forcing us to start a protest against....it should stop troubling the students. The anger is still there among students, because their anger was not against just one minister, but against the entire government. The government should fall in line, else the students will do it," he said.

The agitation achieved a huge victory as the youth showed that they would not be afraid of questioning the government, Dipke said.

Criticizing The Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill-2026, he said there are many laws in the country but nothing can happen until those who implement them are good.

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"Three days ago, Prime Minister Narendra Modi promised fast-track courts for paper leak cases. People were also happy. But what happened? The very first hearing of the case was postponed because the CBI counsel did not appear," he said.