Pune: Opposition parties have decided to distance themselves from the second round of protests organized by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The protest is scheduled to take place in Pune on Thursday.
Background of the Agitation
After returning from the United States, CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke led an agitation at Jantar Mantar in Delhi on June 6. The protest highlighted the NEET paper leak and irregularities in the CBSE On-Screen Marking system, calling for Pradhan's resignation. Dipke then traveled to Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, his hometown, where he announced the second round of agitation in Pune.
While the INDIA Bloc, comprising 23 parties, has demanded Pradhan's resignation, they are not joining forces with the CJP. The CJP has garnered millions of followers in less than a month since its launch.
Plans for the Pune Protest
Dipke is planning the agitation at Savitribai Phule Pune University. CJP representatives have submitted an application to the Chatushrungi police station seeking permission for the protest. They have been called to complete the formalities. A senior police officer stated, "We will grant them permission."
Political Parties' Stance
The Congress party has announced it will not join the protest. Prashant Jagtap, chief of the party's Pune East unit, explained, "We support the demand made by CJP to remove Pradhan as the education minister. However, as a political party, we will not join the protest. As the leading opposition party in the country, Congress is raising issues including the NEET exam paper leak, inflation, and unemployment in various states. In the INDIA Bloc meeting in Delhi on Monday, the opposition demanded the education minister's resignation."
Similarly, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has supported CJP's demand but decided to stay away from Thursday's protest. Mukund Kirdat, state spokesperson of AAP, said, "CJP's demand is valid, and the government should remove Pradhan without further delay. However, our party will not be part of the agitation in Pune. They have started a movement and are building a pressure group but have a long way to go if they are thinking of floating a political party."
Future Plans of CJP
Following the Delhi protest, Dipke stated that he will lead similar protests across the country until Pradhan takes moral responsibility for issues pertaining to the education ministry and resigns. While the CJP seeks more support for its agitation, mainstream political parties have adopted a wait-and-watch stance.
