Dipke’s Parents Criticize Police Action: Won’t Ask Him To End Protest

India-West News Desk

MUMBAI – The parents of Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke have criticized the police action against student protesters in Delhi while making it clear they will not ask their son to step away from the movement he began.

Abhijeet’s father, Bhagwan Dipke, told the Hindustan Times he was concerned about his son after the police crackdown but would not ask him to withdraw the agitation. A retired engineer with the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC), he said the protest was Abhijeet’s own initiative and insisted the students had conducted themselves peacefully.

Calling the July 20 police action deeply disturbing, Bhagwan Dipke said the students were educated and responsible and had not resorted to violence or rioting. He accused the authorities of provoking the violence, alleging that what unfolded appeared to be a “state-sponsored riot.” He also criticized the government, saying its response reflected growing arrogance after remaining in power for a long time.

Abhijeet’s mother, Anita Dipke, echoed his concerns to Hindustan Times and questioned why students aged 18 to 20 were being treated like terrorists. She said the protesters had spent the past 23 days peacefully demonstrating over their future and should have been heard instead of being lathi-charged. Anita added that watching videos of the police action on her phone left her in tears.