CJP leader threatens Jaipur sit-in after school inspection team attacked
CJP activists allege attack during school inspection near Jaipur; party founder threatens sit-in if demands unmet.
Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke has threatened to lead a sit-in protest in Rajasthan after party activists were allegedly attacked while inspecting a government school near Jaipur. In a video message posted on social media, Dipke said CJP leaders were assaulted and prevented from entering the school. He demanded that those responsible be arrested within 48 hours and that repair work at the school begin immediately, warning he would travel to Jaipur otherwise.
The incident occurred on Friday morning when a CJP team, including co-convenor Ashutosh Ranka, attempted to inspect a primary school in Rampura Kanwarpura village in Jaipur's Bagru Assembly constituency. According to Ranka, the team was stopped by people claiming to be residents but who were allegedly "goons summoned by the Bharatiya Janata Party." He said the school has been operating out of a cattle shed for the past three years, with children being taught among buffaloes. Videos shared by Ranka purportedly show team members being beaten, their cars' windows smashed, and stones being thrown.
Around 40 CJP activists visited the school. The injured were taken to SMS Hospital in Jaipur. Manna Lal, the owner of the cowshed, said he had written to the state government about the school's condition. Villagers, however, said they would repair the school themselves, claiming the government had already sanctioned Rs 12.5 lakh for the work, and said they would not allow outsiders into the village.
Police have downplayed the incident. Inspector Dharam Singh of Shivdaspura police station said no one was beaten up, describing it as a tussle between villagers and CJP workers. He said no complaints had been received and that civil defence personnel were in the area.
The visit comes amid a broader political dispute. The Rajasthan government recently imposed restrictions on outsiders entering government schools and on taking photos and videos, citing student privacy. Ranka accused the Education Minister of using "dictatorship to hide the poor condition of schools in Rajasthan." The CJP, which spearheaded the NEET protest in Delhi, has shifted its focus to basic school infrastructure and accountability, a concern that has resonated across parts of India in recent weeks.