Abhijit Dipke, founder of the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), on 21 July condemned Delhi Police for allegedly using excessive force against students during a march from Jantar Mantar to Parliament, as the NEET-UG agitation entered a charged new phase on the opening day of the Monsoon Session. The march was called off midway, according to Dipke, to prevent further harm to students amid what he described as a brutal police crackdown.

What Dipke Alleged

Addressing the media, Dipke claimed the protest was entirely peaceful when police initiated a lathi-charge, injuring a number of students. He alleged that female students were also subjected to mistreatment near the barricades, with reports of head injuries, broken limbs, and other serious wounds — though these claims have not been independently verified.

'Our students were determined to march to Parliament despite the risks, but we had to prioritise their safety to prevent any major tragedy,' Dipke said.

Delhi Police's Counter-Claim

Delhi Police stated that more than 100 of its personnel sustained injuries during the students' protest — a direct contradiction of the CJP's characterisation of the demonstration as entirely peaceful. The competing accounts underscore the contested nature of events on the ground.

Key Demands and the Wangchuk Hunger Strike

Dipke announced that the agitation and hunger strike led by activist Sonam Wangchuk will continue until Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigns. He also reacted to the FIR registered against activist Saurabh Das, demanding that if protesters face legal action, the Education Minister must equally be held accountable for the NEET-UG controversies that he alleged have led to multiple student suicides.

Dipke questioned the government's intentions, particularly following a meeting with Union Minister J.P. Nadda, suggesting that the encounter had not yielded satisfactory assurances.

Parliament Takes Up NEET-UG

Despite the clashes outside, the opposition raised the NEET-UG issue inside Parliament on the first day of the Monsoon Session — a move Dipke welcomed and described as the opposition keeping its promise to students. He nonetheless made clear that street protests would not cease until the Education Minister's resignation.

The march itself had drawn thousands of students and supporters to Jantar Mantar, demanding systemic reforms to the examination process and accountability for repeated paper leaks that have roiled the country's high-stakes entrance testing system. This comes amid months of sustained pressure on the Centre over the NEET-UG 2024 paper leak controversy, which has already triggered multiple judicial and governmental reviews.

What Happens Next

With the hunger strike ongoing and the opposition committed to pressing the matter in Parliament, the NEET-UG controversy is set to remain a flashpoint through the Monsoon Session. The fate of the FIR against Saurabh Das and any government response to the resignation demand will be closely watched in the days ahead.