Government Ministers Target Cockroach Janata Party Founder Abhijeet Dipke

Union ministers have taken opposing stances toward Abhijeet Dipke, the founder of the satirical pressure group Cockroach Janata Party. Dipke led massive student protests at Jantar Mantar from June to July 2026 over NEET-UG paper leaks and irregularities, which resulted in the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

Union Minister Ramdas Athawale, chief of the Republican Party of India (A), invited Dipke to join his party and the National Democratic Alliance. Athawale described Dipke as a young Ambedkarite who could help strengthen society. This invitation coincided with Athawale's announcement of an imminent Union cabinet reshuffle and his call for the Nationalist Congress Party (SP) to join the ruling coalition.

Conversely, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju accused Dipke of being an Aam Aadmi Party worker posing as a student leader. Rijiju alleged that the Aam Aadmi Party attempted to hijack youth-led protests for political gain, citing Dipke's social media history as evidence of these ties.

Dipke has previously ruled out entering electoral politics, stating the country needs a public movement due to a loss of faith in the judiciary, media, and election system. He recently launched the School Thik Karo campaign to address the neglect of government schools in Maharashtra's Hingoli district.