Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Tuesday accused Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke of attempting to portray himself as a student leader while allegedly being associated with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
Speaking to ANI, Rijiju said the concerns raised by students during the recent protests were genuine, but alleged that political parties were attempting to “hijack” the movement for political purposes.
“The students’ concerns are valid, but the attempt by the Aam Aadmi Party and others to hijack the situation is not right. Abhijeet Dipke is from Maharashtra, but he is an Aam Aadmi Party worker. How did he become a ‘student’?” Rijiju said.
He said the government remained willing to engage directly with students on their demands but criticised political parties for allegedly using student movements to pursue their own interests.
“Students have a certain passion, and one can engage in dialogue with them, but when political parties try to grind their own political axes by hiding behind students–that is simply not right,” he said.
Rijiju also rejected suggestions that the BJP was disconnected from Gen Z and stressed the need for continuous dialogue between younger people and political leadership.
He said India’s family-oriented social structure naturally creates close links between generations, while acknowledging that bridging generational differences requires active communication.
Dipke has previously worked with AAP before launching the satirical CJP movement. His earlier social media posts expressing support for AAP have also drawn attention to his political associations.
The CJP has said it currently intends to function as a pressure group rather than a political party. It is also running a “School Thik Karo” campaign focused on highlighting problems in government schools, particularly in rural areas.
The CJP-led student protests between June and July drew support from several opposition parties, including AAP and the Samajwadi Party. The protests also preceded the resignation of former Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
