Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke on Wednesday took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his viral social media videos, saying he would be better suited as an influencer than as the
country’s leader.
Speaking to reporters after returning to his hometown of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar following the month-long Jantar Mantar protest over the NEET paper leak, Dipke was asked whether he had watched the Prime Minister’s videos on social media.
Responding to the question, Dipke quipped, “I think he would do very well as an influencer. He is doing an excellent job in that role. Perhaps he should step down as Prime Minister and become an influencer, while someone else handles the responsibilities of governing.”
The remarks came days after the Centre accepted the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan following massive protests led by students demanding accountability over the alleged NEET paper leak.
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‘Students Are Not Terrorists’
Dipke also alleged that police were continuing to harass student activists despite the conclusion of the agitation. He claimed police personnel were visiting the homes of protesters in several states and threatening them with arrest.
“The government should behave well now. The blood of students was spilled on the streets on July 20 (during the March to Parliament). It was really bad. Wasn’t it enough, now that the students are still being troubled? In many states, police are visiting the houses of students and threatening them with arrests,” he said.
Demanding action against those responsible for ordering pellet gun firing during the July 20 protest at Jantar Mantar, Dipke said, “Whether it be Amit Shah (or anyone else), action should be taken against the person who gave orders to fire pellet guns.”
He warned that students could launch another agitation if the alleged harassment continued.
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“These students are not terrorists. They are the future of our country. If the future of the country is troubled in such a way, just as Dharmendra Pradhan had to step down…Tomorrow, we will go and change the government if it doesn’t fall in line,” the CJP founder said.
‘Take Action Against Person Who Gave Orders To Fire Pellet Guns’
Later, while speaking to reporters at his residence, Dipke reiterated his criticism of the use of pellet guns against student protesters.
“What was the reason for using pellet guns? Pellet guns should not be used against anyone. They (students) are citizens of our country and not terrorists. Whether it be (Union Home Minister) Amit Shah, action should be taken against the person who gave orders to fire pellet guns,” he said.
Dipke also defended celebrations by CJP volunteers after Pradhan’s resignation, saying, “The volunteers were sitting in the harsh sun and in the rain for thirty-six days. What is wrong (with celebrating) after such a big victory. What does the BJP do after winning elections? The volunteers did not block roads like the BJP people do.”
Questioning the BJP’s criticism, he added, “Did the BJP not feel any shame in felicitating Dharmendra Pradhan in Parliament after students had committed suicide?”
‘Govt Should Fall In Line, Else Students Will Do It’
Asked whether the CJP planned another protest, Dipke said the government was itself creating the conditions for fresh demonstrations.
“The government is forcing us to start a protest against….it should stop troubling the students. The anger is still there among students, because their anger was not against just one minister, but against the entire government. The government should fall in line, else the students will do it,” he said.
Criticising the Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, Dipke argued that laws alone would not solve the issue unless they were effectively implemented.
“Three days ago, Prime Minister Narendra Modi promised fast-track courts for paper leak cases. People were also happy. But what happened? The very first hearing of the case was postponed because the CBI counsel did not appear,” he said.
PM Modi’s Instagram Outreach
The remarks come against the backdrop of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent Instagram outreach amid the nationwide protests over the alleged NEET paper leak.
Also Read: ‘Thank You Friends’: PM Modi Shares Second Reel In 24 Hours After NEET Post Gets Massive Response
Over the past week, the Prime Minister shared three selfie-style videos on the platform.
In the first, he described paper leaks as a “serious issue” and assured students that the government would introduce stricter measures to curb examination malpractices.
He followed it up with a second video thanking young people for their suggestions and engagement, before posting a third reel announcing the constitution of a high-powered task force on examination reforms under the leadership of Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani.
The videos garnered hundreds of millions of views and sparked widespread discussion on social media.
Violence During CJP Protests
Violence had erupted during the CJP ‘Chalo Sansad’ protest on July 20, with clashes breaking out between demonstrators and security personnel at multiple locations around Jantar Mantar and nearby areas.
According to Delhi Police, more than 65 protesters and over 200 police personnel were injured in the unrest. The alleged use of plastic pellets by security forces during the operation later became a major political flashpoint after reports claimed that several protesters had sustained grievous injuries.
The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) was protesting against the NEET-UG paper leak, which had left lakhs of students affected nationwide.
On Saturday, CJP ended its 36-day sit-in at Jantar Mantar after the Centre had accepted several of its key demands.
These included the resignation of then Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, withdrawal of FIRs against protesters, protection from retaliatory action and a commitment to examine wider reforms in the examination system.
