Abhijit Dipke, founder of the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), said Delhi Police have no right to advise protesters during the NEET-related agitation [1].
The confrontation highlights a growing tension between student activists and law enforcement over the boundaries of democratic expression and police authority in New Delhi. Dipke said the police actions are an attempt to control the nature of a movement aimed at government accountability.
The protests took place in February 2024 at Jantar Mantar, where hundreds of students and activists gathered [2, 4]. The group demanded the resignation of the education minister [3]. Conditions at the site were severe, with temperatures rising over 40 °C [4].
Dipke leveled charges against the police, alleging that officers assaulted protesters and threw away books focused on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Bhagat Singh [1, 2]. He said the police are trying to dictate how the group protests, which he described as unacceptable [2].
"Delhi Police has no right to advise us," Dipke said [1].
He said the movement is standing for its right to demand leadership changes within the education ministry [3]. The CJP founder said the police are overstepping their authority by directing how the protest is conducted, an act he views as interference in a democratic movement [1, 2].
During the events, rumors circulated on social media regarding the detention of Dipke. However, the Delhi Police said the alleged detention was completely false [5].
“"Delhi Police has no right to advise us."”
The dispute underscores the friction between the Indian state's security apparatus and youth-led political movements. By accusing police of destroying educational texts and attempting to 'advise' the form of protest, the CJP is framing the issue not just as a policy disagreement over NEET exams, but as a broader struggle for the right to dissent without state interference.
