after-neet-protest-cjp-turns-to-e20-jobs

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) will continue functioning as a "pressure group" rather than entering electoral politics, founder Abhijeet Dipke said on Wednesday, outlining the organisation's roadmap after its 37-day nationwide agitation over the alleged NEET-UG paper leak.

 

Speaking ahead of a two-day core committee meeting in Maharashtra's Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Dipke said the organisation would now broaden its campaign beyond education-related issues to include the government's ethanol-blended fuel (E20) policy, unemployment and alleged recruitment exam irregularities in Jharkhand.

 

Rejecting speculation about a political foray, Dipke said public trust in political parties and several democratic institutions had weakened, making a citizen-led pressure group more relevant.

 

"Our agitation received nationwide support. It was no longer just about education but also about accountability in institutions. India needs a public pressure group at this moment," he said.

 

He also criticised the state of party politics, saying governments are often formed in ways that do not reflect voters' expectations, and reiterated that CJP's immediate focus would remain public advocacy rather than contesting elections.

 

Chief spokesperson Saurav Das echoed the stand, saying CJP would grow as a grassroots movement instead of becoming another political party.

 

"There are already enough political parties. If people still face pain and injustice, the answer is not another party but a people's movement," Das said.

 

The organisation will continue pressing for the withdrawal of FIRs registered against students who participated in the recent anti-NEET protests and is in talks with government representatives on the issue, he added. Das said CJP is also arranging legal and medical assistance for injured protesters.

 

Dipke confirmed that CJP would extend support to students and job aspirants protesting in Jharkhand over alleged paper leaks and irregularities in recruitment examinations.

 

The two-day strategy meeting in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, attended by Dipke, Das, spokesperson Vaishnavi Gaur and other senior leaders, will review the NEET agitation, discuss grassroots expansion and chart the organisation's future course. Environmentalist Sonam Wangchuk will continue to serve as the movement's mentor, the leadership said.