New Delhi: Amid the ongoing Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) protest at Jantar Mantar, the health of the organisation’s founder, Abhijeet Dipke, has worsened. In a post on X, Dipke revealed that he has been diagnosed with typhoid. Despite his illness, he asserted that the protest will continue and vowed not to end the agitation until Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigns. Meanwhile, security has been further tightened in and around the protest site.
What did Abhijeet Dipke say?
Posting on his official X account, Abhijeet Dipke said that he is suffering from typhoid. Along with this, he appealed to the supporters to continue the movement. He wrote that even though his health is not well, the movement started demanding the resignation of the education minister will continue until the government takes a concrete decision.
Why was security increased at the protest site?
Police have made additional security arrangements around Sansad Marg, Jantar Mantar and Tolstoy Road. Loudspeakers have been installed at several locations, while vehicles equipped with facial recognition technology have been deployed at every major entry point. People coming and going are being monitored so that any untoward situation can be dealt with immediately.
Why did the number of protesters decrease?
Following the intervention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and reports of talks starting between the government and the CJP, the crowd at the protest on Friday was less visible than before. A significant decline was seen in the number of protesters from Jantar Mantar to Sansad Marg. Despite this, people were continuously appealed to from the stage to stand firm.
What appeal did Dipke make to his supporters?
Amidst the protest, Abhijeet Dipke claimed that the government can detain or arrest the protesters at night. He appealed to the supporters to maintain peace and said that more and more people should join the protest during the weekend. But the effect of his appeal was not much visible at the protest site.
What was the impact of Kanhaiya Kumar’s detention and the nationwide call?
Congress leader Kanhaiya Kumar, who had come to support the protest, was taken into custody by the police. During this time, some protesters removed the barricades installed on Parliament Street, but the police exercised restraint instead of using force. At the same time, the call for nationwide protest given by CJP also had limited effect. Barring Mumbai and a few other cities, people did not take to the streets in large numbers at most places, making the scope of the movement appear smaller than expected.
