Gandhi, Not Bangladesh, Inspires India’s Student Movements: Dipke
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke has rejected comparisons between CJP’s Delhi protest and Bangladesh’s 2024 uprising (Image: PTI)
Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke on Monday rejected comparisons between recent student protests in India and political uprisings in neighbouring Bangladesh and Nepal, asserting that India’s tradition of peaceful protest is rooted in the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi.
Speaking to PTI at his residence in Maharashtra’s Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Dipke said the CJP-led demonstration at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar over alleged examination irregularities was fundamentally different from the 2024 protests in Bangladesh that culminated in the ouster of Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League government.
“Protests in Bangladesh and Nepal are being used to defame us; we are different,” Dipke said, emphasising that the student movement in India adhered to constitutional values and remained non-violent throughout.
He argued that Indian movements do not need to draw inspiration from events in neighbouring countries because the country already has a rich history of peaceful resistance led by Mahatma Gandhi.
“We don’t need to look at Bangladesh or Nepal when we have Mahatma Gandhi, from whom the world takes inspiration to protest,” he said.
Responding to remarks by exiled Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasreen, who had drawn parallels between the student protests in India and Bangladesh, Dipke dismissed the comparison as inappropriate. While acknowledging that images of police action during demonstrations may have reminded observers of unrest elsewhere, he maintained that Indian students exercised restraint despite facing injuries.
“The students in India were not violent or aggressive. They got their heads, arms and legs broken but displayed restraint and sat peacefully at Jantar Mantar,” he said.
Describing education as the cornerstone of India’s future, Dipke said it should become the defining issue in electoral politics.
“If you don’t make education the main agenda in elections, it means you are not thinking about the future. Education is an investment for the future of the country,” he said.
Dipke also criticised the government over the delay in providing compensation to the families of NEET aspirants who died by suicide, alleging that authorities were selective in responding to public demands.
According to him, political programmes involving substantial expenditure often receive swift administrative attention, while appeals concerning bereaved families remain entangled in procedural delays. He warned that failure to address these concerns could trigger another phase of public agitation.
On the growing role of Generation Z in public movements, Dipke encouraged young people to continue raising their voices while maintaining discipline and dignity.
He urged students to distinguish themselves from what he described as aggressive political behaviour, saying peaceful protest remained the most effective means of securing change.
Extending solidarity to students in Jharkhand protesting alleged irregularities in state public service examinations and recruitment processes, Dipke said the movement was directed against systemic failures rather than any particular political party.
“Wherever agitations happen for education and wherever students come forward to demand their rights, we are going to stand with them, irrespective of the ruling party in that state,” he said.
He added that the CJP would continue supporting demands for transparent investigations and structural reforms in recruitment and examination systems across the country.
Addressing speculation about opposition leaders visiting the Jantar Mantar protest site, Dipke said their presence was intended to support students rather than serve political interests.
Looking ahead, Dipke announced that the organisation would hold a meeting in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar on August 5 to determine its future course after the recent protest movement.
He said public expectations from the organisation had increased significantly and volunteers would play a central role in expanding its activities in the coming months.
Reflecting on India’s education system, Dipke argued that greater emphasis should be placed on practical learning, improved infrastructure and character-building. Comparing domestic institutions with those abroad, he said many foreign education systems focus on developing responsible citizens rather than encouraging students to merely pursue examination scores.
He also called for increased public spending on education, questioning what he described as declining government expenditure in the sector.
“There is no dearth of funds with the government, so I don’t understand why expenditure on education is being reduced,” he said. “Education forms the foundation of a nation’s progress.”
Dipke further questioned the limited public information surrounding the PM Cares Fund, suggesting that greater support from such resources could strengthen India’s education system.
Concluding his remarks, he expressed concern over the rising cost of quality education, saying it has made educational opportunities increasingly inaccessible for ordinary families.
He stressed that India needs a more inclusive, affordable and equitable education system to ensure that every student, regardless of economic background, has access to quality learning and opportunities for advancement.
