Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke appeared to take a swipe at critics of the recent student protests after RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat said that participating in protests does not make Gen Z students “anti-national.”
Dipke shared a brief post on X, writing, “To whom it may concern…”, shortly after Bhagwat’s remarks at a public event in Mumbai. The comment was widely interpreted as a response to political leaders who had criticised the nationwide student agitation over the alleged NEET-UG paper leak and examination reforms.
Bhagwat Says Protests Are Part of Democratic Dialogue
Addressing an event in Mumbai on Thursday, Mohan Bhagwat said young people today seek logical explanations and should not be criticised simply for raising concerns.
He said Gen Z students are “our own children” and that participating in protests does not make them anti-national.
According to Bhagwat, democratic societies should view peaceful protests as a legitimate form of dialogue, while also ensuring that such demonstrations are not used to create divisions within society.
He also observed that India’s education system requires continued discussion and improvement.
Dipke’s Post Seen as Response to Earlier Criticism
Although Dipke did not name anyone in his social media post, it was viewed as an apparent response to a section of BJP leaders who had questioned the motives behind the student protests.
Several leaders had previously alleged that the demonstrations were being influenced by foreign interests or “anti-national” elements.
The nationwide protests, led by the CJP and supported by student groups, were organised to demand greater transparency and reforms in competitive examinations following the alleged NEET-UG paper leak.
Investigation Into Protest Clashes Continues
Authorities are continuing to investigate clashes between students and police during protests at Jantar Mantar in Delhi, along with allegations of police excesses.
Officials have maintained that while the protests largely reflected genuine student concerns, some individuals with criminal backgrounds and vested interests allegedly infiltrated parts of the agitation.
Political Debate Over Student Agitation
The student protests have triggered sharp political exchanges in recent weeks.
Several BJP leaders had criticised the demonstrations, alleging that anti-national or politically motivated groups were attempting to exploit the movement.
Among them, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey claimed that foreign forces had influenced the protests. BJP president Nitin Nabin also criticised the agitation during a party event, while West Bengal BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari and BJP Mumbai president Ameet Satam alleged that anti-national elements had participated in the demonstrations.
The latest remarks by Mohan Bhagwat, however, have introduced a different perspective, emphasising that peaceful protest is a legitimate democratic exercise and that the concerns of young people deserve to be heard.
