CHHATRAPATI SAMBHAJINAGAR: Three days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced fast-track courts for paper leak cases, Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke questioned the government’s commitment to speedy justice, claiming the very first hearing was postponed because the CBI counsel failed to appear.Addressing reporters after returning to his hometown of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar following a month-long student protest in New Delhi, Dipke said the delay undermined the Centre’s promise of swift action in paper leak cases.“Three days ago, Prime Minister Narendra Modi promised fast-track courts for paper leak cases. People were also happy. But what happened? The very first hearing of the case was postponed because the CBI counsel did not appear,” he said, as quoted by news agency PTI.Dipke also alleged that student protesters continue to face police harassment even after the resignation of former Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET paper leak controversy.“The government should behave well now. The blood of students was spilled on the streets on July 20 (during the March to Parliament). It was really bad. Wasn’t it enough, now that the students are still being troubled? In many states, police are visiting the houses of students and threatening them with arrests,” he told reporters at the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar airport.Seeking action against those responsible for the use of pellet guns during the July 20 protest at Jantar Mantar, Dipke said:“Whether it be Amit Shah (or anyone else), action should be taken against the person who gave orders to fire pellet guns.”Warning that the student movement could intensify if the alleged harassment continues, he added:“These students are not terrorists. They are the future of our country. 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 he had returned home after nearly 40 days of protests in the national capital.“I am coming home after almost 40 days. Since I arrived in India, protests were going on. Then I was at Jantar Mantar in Delhi for almost 36 days. The agitation turned out to be successful and the country’s students won…I have come here and I am happy that I am going to meet my parents,” he said.Replying to another question, Dipke said Prime Minister Narendra Modi should resign and become a social media influencer, “something he is very good at”.Later, speaking to reporters at his residence, he again questioned the use of pellet guns against protesters.“What was the reason for using pellet guns? Pellet guns should not be used against anyone. They (students) are citizens of our country and not terrorists. Whether it be (Union Home Minister) Amit Shah, action should be taken against the person who gave orders to fire pellet guns,” Dipke said.Defending celebrations by CJP volunteers after Pradhan’s resignation, he said:“The volunteers were sitting in the harsh sun and in the rain for thirty-six days. What is wrong (with celebrating) after such a big victory. What does the BJP do after winning elections? The volunteers did not block roads like the BJP people do.”He also asked, “Did the BJP not feel any shame in felicitating Dharmendra Pradhan in Parliament after students had committed suicide.”Asked whether the party would launch another agitation, Dipke said the government was leaving it with little choice.“The government is forcing us to start a protest against….it should stop troubling the students. The anger is still there among students, because their anger was not against just one minister, but against the entire government. The government should fall in line, else the students will do it.”He further said the movement had shown that young people would not hesitate to question those in power and criticised the Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, arguing that laws alone are ineffective without proper implementation.
