NEW DELHI: Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke on Tuesday accused the Centre of sending mixed signals by opening talks with the outfit even as police cracked down on protesters, alleging that the government’s outreach was aimed at weakening the agitation.Addressing supporters at Jantar Mantar, where protests over alleged irregularities in competitive examinations entered their 32nd day, Dipke claimed that senior CJP leaders were deliberately kept occupied during their meeting with Union health minister J P Nadda while police action unfolded on the streets.“The government wasted our time. They invited our delegation. They seized their mobiles. Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das were, in a way, under house arrest at J P Nadda’s residence,” Dipke alleged.“The whole plan was to scatter the team, so that when there is chaos, no one is there. You call for talks on one hand, and unleash batons on students on the other hand,” he said.The Centre has not responded to the allegations.Dipke’s remarks came after Nadda held talks with CJP representatives Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das, the first direct engagement between the government and the protesters since the agitation began.“The only assurance we got is that he will talk to the leadership and share the conclusions,” Ranka told PTI.According to the outfit, Nadda assured the delegation that the government leadership would discuss their demands, including the resignation of Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan.On Tuesday, protests resumed at Jantar Mantar amid heavy security deployment, a day after police used force to disperse demonstrators attempting to march to Parliament.Dipke also claimed that climate activist Sonam Wangchuk had agreed to end his indefinite hunger strike after persuasion from fellow protesters but reversed his decision after witnessing the police crackdown on the “Sansad Chalo” march.“Sonam Wangchuk was going to end his fast yesterday. We had convinced him with great difficulty. We urged him that his life is too precious for this country and he should end his fast. He had somehow agreed, but seeing police brutality, he has continued his fast and this is very serious,” Dipke said.Protesters retained the stage at the site, placing a photograph of Wangchuk alongside a copy of the Constitution, the Ramcharitmanas, a charkha and a small Buddha statue.Dipke said Wangchuk’s continued fast had become a matter of serious concern.“His body can tolerate a fast for 20-21 days. After that, his life is under threat. Doctors had said in three-four days his organs can be damaged. It’s been four days since he was picked up. We didn’t want him to prolong his fast,” he added.Wangchuk, who joined the agitation on June 28, was shifted to Safdarjung Hospital by Delhi Police on July 18 and has continued his hunger strike. On Tuesday, the Delhi high court ordered his immediate transfer to Medanta Hospital in Gurugram.Meanwhile, CJP leader Saurav Das claimed on social media that supporters continued to gather at Jantar Mantar despite Monday’s crackdown. Protesters also cleaned the site after police dismantled tents erected there.“Huge crowd has gathered in and around Jantar Mantar… Dharmendra Pradhan has to go! We are also on the ground providing legal and medical help to our protesters. We shall overcome!” he wrote.The agitation, launched on June 20, seeks accountability over alleged irregularities in competitive examinations, reforms in the education system and the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan.(With PTI inputs)
