Students can change govt, says CJP's Dipke; seeks end to 'harassment' of protesters

Mumbai: Warning the government that it would have to "pay dearly" for "harassing" students who participated in the agitation over the NEET exam paper leak, Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke said students could even change the government if the government did not "mend its ways".

"In different states, the police are going to students' homes and harassing them, threatening them with arrest and detention. They are not terrorists; they are the future of the country," Dipke said. "If it (government ) continues to harass the country's future like this, then now we have taken just Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation; if this harassment continues, then tomorrow they will change the government if it doesn't mend its ways," he said.

The CJP founder made the comments in Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar in Maharashtra, where he visited his family.


Dipke said the country's youth got a huge victory by getting education minister Pradhan's resignation but warned that the government would be mistaken to believe that students were simply content with his resignation.

"The government is creating a situation where we would have to again sit in protest. Don't trouble the students. Don't be under the impression that the students have calmed down," he said, adding: "The students were not just angry at Pradhan, but they were angry at the entire government . Do not send the police to students' homes. Don't take (this warning) lightly."

The CJP leader said they were still talking to the Centre on the issue.

Dipke attacked BJP governments over police allegedly using pellet guns on the protesters and threatening them with AK-47 rifles. "They are treating the youth as terrorists. Action should be taken against whoever has given these orders," he said.