Jaipur (Rajasthan) [India], August 21 : CJP leader Abhijeet Dipke on Thursday alleged that a team led by CJP activist Ashutosh Ranka was attacked by BJP workers in Rajasthan after Ranka was allegedly preparing to expose the condition of a school where children were being taught in a buffalo shed. Dipke demanded the arrest of those responsible within 48 hours and warned that he would travel to Jaipur and stage a protest at the school if action was not taken.
In a statement, Dipke alleged that Ranka and members of his team were beaten up by people he described as "BJP goons". He claimed that the alleged assault took place because Ranka was about to highlight the condition of the school and bring attention to children being taught in what he described as a buffalo shed.
"I want to say that if within 48 hours, the goons aren't arrested and repair work doesn't begin, I'll visit Jaipur and will sit at the school until its repair begins," Dipke said.
He also appealed to supporters and members of the public to join him in Jaipur if the authorities failed to act within the deadline. Referring to an earlier protest at Jantar Mantar, Dipke said they would sit in Jaipur in a similar manner to press the government to address the issue.
The CJP leader further demanded that the Rajasthan government should withdraw a circular that prevents people from sharing pictures and videos of schools. Dipke also targeted the BJP over the alleged attack and said such incidents would not deter them from raising issues concerning education and school infrastructure.
"I want to say to BJP that no matter the number of attacks, we will not back off. We will get the schools repaired," he said.
Earlier, tensions escalated sharply following a violent confrontation in Rampura Kanwarpura, Jaipur district, where a visiting delegation of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) was allegedly ambushed by people they decribed as political opponents.
The incident has further fueled an ongoing controversy surrounding directives issued by Rajasthan Education Minister Madan Dilawar regarding state government schools.
According to CJP, team members attempting to inspect a local government school, which reportedly operates out of a makeshift shed, were met with mob violence.
Now, Dipke says he would personally visit Jaipur and remain at the school if the demands for arrests of those allegedly behind the attck on his team were not met, while urging supporters to join the proposed protest.