Maharashtra: Dipke Says Students Can Change Government, Modi Better As Influencer Than PM
“We have only taken the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan. In many states, police are visiting the houses of students and threatening them for arrests": Student leader Abhijit Dipke
MUMBAI: Returning home after 40 days following the student protests in Delhi, student leader Abhijit Dipke on Wednesday warned that “if this government does not fall into line, students will change the entire government tomorrow”.
Dipke also took aim at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying he should vacate the Prime Minister's chair for someone else and become a full-time influencer instead, claiming it was a role he performed well.
“We have only taken the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan. In many states, police are visiting the houses of students and threatening them for arrests," he said. If the future of the country is troubled in such a way, just as Dharmendra Pradhan had to step down, tomorrow, we will go and change the government if it doesn’t fall in line,” Dipke said.
Dipke, leader of the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), who came into the spotlight following protests that culminated in Pradhan’s resignation, returned to his home in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar on Wednesday after spending 40 days in Delhi. He was given a grand welcome by supporters.
Addressing the gathering, Dipke alleged that governments in several states were targeting and harassing students associated with the CJP-led protests.
“The government must stop harassing student protesters immediately. Taking the Union Minister’s resignation has not erased the public’s anger; their anger is directed at the government itself. If the government continues to target these students, voters will teach them a lesson in the upcoming elections,” he said.
Asked about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent videos posted on Instagram, Dipke took a swipe at the Prime Minister, saying, “I think Prime Minister Modi should become a full-time influencer. He is doing a good job as an influencer. He should vacate the Prime Minister’s chair and let another leader handle that responsibility.”
BJP MP Kangana Ranaut had earlier criticised the protesters, accusing them of using inappropriate and unparliamentary language against the Prime Minister. She said the use of profanity in public places reflected a lack of basic civic sense.
Responding to her remarks, Dipke dismissed the criticism, saying Ranaut was “not a serious political figure” and that the CJP attached no importance to her comments.
Dipke also defended his organisation against criticism over a victory celebration held soon after Dharmendra Pradhan stepped down as Union Education Minister. Critics had questioned the timing of the event, but Dipke said the gathering was meant to honour the efforts of the protesters.
“Our volunteers spent 36 days and nights sitting on the streets. That gathering was for them. When the BJP wins an election, its members celebrate openly in the streets.
We chose to celebrate indoors instead. What is wrong if our volunteers enjoyed themselves for a single day? Did the BJP feel no shame when Dharmendra Pradhan was welcomed in Parliament right after the tragic suicides of 21 students?” he said.
His father Bhagwanrao Dipke claimed his son received threats, warning him to join the BJP or face consequences. He claimed the threat came through a YouTube video that he saw a day after his son launched CJP.
