StudentProtests – Bhagwat’s Remarks Spark Fresh Appeal Over Treatment of Student Demonstrators

StudentProtests – Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke on Friday welcomed recent remarks made by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, saying they offered an important message about the rights of young people to raise genuine concerns. Dipke also appealed to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leadership and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to stop referring to protesting students as “anti-nationals,” arguing that peaceful demonstrations should not attract such labels.

Bhagwat’s Statement Draws Positive Response

Dipke’s comments followed Mohan Bhagwat’s interaction with members of Gen Z and Gen Alpha at the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre (NMACC) in Mumbai. During the discussion, Bhagwat said that young citizens have every right to protest over legitimate issues and should not automatically be branded anti-national for expressing their views.

Speaking to ANI, Dipke described Bhagwat’s observations as the most significant part of the interaction. According to him, acknowledging the right of young people to protest is an important step toward strengthening democratic values and ensuring that genuine public concerns receive attention.

Appeal to BJP Leadership

Referring to Bhagwat’s influence within the broader ideological ecosystem associated with the BJP, Dipke urged the RSS chief to communicate the same message directly to the party’s senior leadership. He said student protesters and young citizens should not be portrayed as acting against the nation simply because they question government policies or administrative decisions.

Dipke expressed hope that Bhagwat’s position would encourage political leaders to adopt a more balanced approach while responding to youth-led demonstrations.

Criticism Over Previous Remarks

The CJP founder also alleged that several BJP leaders had previously used harsh language while commenting on student protests. He referred to earlier statements by Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and BJP leader Nitin Nabin, claiming that such remarks unfairly targeted young demonstrators.

According to Dipke, if Bhagwat’s latest comments are accepted within the party, they could help reduce confrontational rhetoric surrounding student movements. He added that any departure from Bhagwat’s position would raise questions about whether the BJP was ignoring guidance from the RSS leadership.

Call for Probe Into Misleading Social Media Content

During the same interaction, Bhagwat had also expressed concern over the spread of misleading videos and misinformation on social media platforms. Supporting that view, Dipke said a thorough investigation should be carried out to distinguish authentic content from manipulated material.

He alleged that many misleading videos originate from political IT cells and said an impartial inquiry would help establish accountability. Dipke maintained that identifying fake digital content is essential to preventing misinformation from influencing public opinion.

Support for Jharkhand Student Protest

Dipke reiterated his party’s support for students protesting in Jharkhand over alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations. He said members of the CJP had already reached the protest site and were assisting demonstrators by providing food and other essential support.

While expressing solidarity with the movement, Dipke noted that he had not been able to travel because of health-related issues. Nevertheless, he said the party would continue backing the students and their demands.

Students Should Lead the Movement

Highlighting the importance of student leadership, Dipke said the ongoing campaign should remain driven by the students themselves instead of focusing on political personalities. He stated that many young participants have shown leadership qualities and deserve recognition for organizing and sustaining the movement.

According to him, the objective is not to give credit solely to the CJP but to encourage students to confidently advocate for their rights and contribute to improving the country’s education system.

CJP to Continue Seeking Accountability

Concluding his remarks, Dipke said the Cockroach Janta Party intends to continue functioning as a pressure group that pushes for greater accountability from those in public office. He argued that meaningful change becomes possible when citizens collectively demand transparency and responsibility from institutions.

Dipke said public participation remains essential in ensuring that governments respond to legitimate concerns and uphold democratic accountability.