23 July,2026 10:21 AM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondent
Abhijeet Dipke. Pic/PTI
Representatives of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on Thursday alleged that outsiders were attempting to disrupt the ongoing student-led protest over examination paper leaks and claimed that unidentified elements were trying to tarnish the movement's image by instigating violence.
The allegations come a day after clashes were reported during the protest in the national capital, with both the protesters and the police accusing each other over the violence. Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident.
Speaking to reporters, CJP representative Abhijeet Dipke claimed the protest had remained peaceful for nearly a month and alleged that tensions escalated only after the movement gained wider public support.
"People are being sent from outside to deliberately disrupt the protest. We have been sitting here for a month. No such incident has happened in a month. But now, as this protest has grown, goons are being sent from outside by the BJP to deliberately incite people," he said.
Dipke also alleged that Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers were responsible for provoking violence during the demonstration.
"These are the people from the BJP who are pelting stones. The police bring trucks of stones here. BJP goons come, they pelt stones and then defame the people of CJP..." he alleged.
The BJP has not responded to these allegations in the statement provided by ANI.
Dipke alleged that the police resorted to excessive force while dispersing protesters and said legal action would be initiated against the officers involved.
"I have already spoken about the lathi charge. It was very brutal, and we will take the police officers who carried it out to court, and today is the 34th day of our protest. Sonam Sir's hunger strike is continuing. Today is the 26th day of his hunger strike, so our protest will continue until our demands are met," he said.
Despite this, Dipke appealed to activist Sonam Wangchuk to end his ongoing hunger strike, citing concerns over his health.
"But we are requesting Sonam Sir to end his hunger strike because we cannot afford to lose his life..." he said.
CJP leader Saurav Das said the party's demand for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan remained unchanged and described it as a non-negotiable condition.
According to Das, the protest would continue until the demand was fulfilled.
"Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation is non-negotiable. Without this, the protest will continue. It will continue for as long as it has to."
Das said he had spoken with Sonam Wangchuk several times during the day and that both agreed the protest should remain peaceful.
"I spoke with Sonam Wangchuk several times today. The conclusion was that this protest should remain peaceful. He has also publicly appealed to all protesters to maintain peace and conduct this protest in the right manner. He has also publicly appealed to all protesters to maintain peace and conduct this protest in the right manner," Das said.
He further alleged that peaceful protests in the country had previously been disrupted by anti-social elements.
".. In previous protests in this country, anti-social elements planted by the ruling regime infiltrate and derail the entire protest, then ultimately, those protesting peacefully are blamed, and this should not happen."
Meanwhile, Union Health Minister and Leader of the House in the Rajya Sabha, JP Nadda, on Wednesday said the issue of examination paper leaks should not be politicised, describing it as a serious matter requiring detailed deliberation.
He said the government was prepared to discuss all aspects of the alleged NEET-UG paper leak in Parliament, reiterating the Centre's willingness to engage in a comprehensive debate on measures to strengthen the examination system.
(With inputs from ANI)
