Abhijeet Dipke, founder of the Cockroach Janta Party, was slapped multiple times by two men during a protest in Jaipur on Monday [1], [2].
The incident highlights the escalating tension between student activists and political authorities in India as protests over national examination irregularities grow. The attack on Dipke occurred while he was demanding the resignation of Education Minister Pradhan and calling for action regarding NEET exam irregularities [3], [4].
Video footage of the event shows two men [1] repeatedly slapping the party founder. Rajasthan Police said six people have been detained following the incident [5].
Dipke has linked the assault to a broader attempt to suppress political dissent. "Some people from RSS were behind the attack on me," Dipke said [6]. He described the move as an effort to silence student voices across the country [6].
The founder of the Cockroach Janta Party also indicated that the violence is part of a larger pattern of intimidation. Dipke said, "I don’t think the ruling party has the stomach for sarcasm" [7]. This follows reports that Dipke has lost access to several of his accounts as part of a wider crackdown on his party's activities [8].
While some reports focus on the specific irregularities of the NEET exams as the trigger for the Monday protest [4], others suggest the attack is a response to the party's persistent campaign for the Education Minister's resignation [8]. Dipke has vowed to continue his protests despite the assault [2].
“"Some people from RSS were behind the attack on me."”
The assault on Dipke reflects a volatile climate where satire and student-led activism are meeting physical and digital resistance. By targeting a figure who uses sarcasm and a non-traditional party structure to criticize the education ministry, the attackers are signaling a low tolerance for unconventional dissent during a period of high public scrutiny over India's competitive examination systems.
