The Cockroach Janta Party planned to protest at Constitution Square in Nagpur, Maharashtra at 4 pm on Tuesday despite a brief disruption to their movement during the June 15 rally in Jaipur, Rajasthan.
Undeterred by a few miscreants who slapped party founder Abhijit Debki several times on Monday while he was on his way to the protest site, he said the CJP would continue its fight for education and the resignation of Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the recent systemic lapses.
Debaki announced the protest on his social media account after the Jaipur march. “Next stop Nagpur! See you all tomorrow at 4pm,” Deepki wrote.
Debki urged the aggrieved students and residents of Nagpur to join the movement and collectively demand Pradhan’s resignation.
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Nagpur tightens security measures
In the wake of the attack on Dipki in Jaipur, many RJD members called for stricter security measures and cited police lapses as reasons for the incident. In light of these observations, city law enforcement authorities have taken significant steps to ensure that the right to protest is implemented peacefully without untoward incidents.
Elaborate arrangements have been made at Samvidhan Chowk ahead of the protest which is expected to receive over 2,000 youth from the main city and several districts of Vidarbha. Debaki was scheduled to arrive in the city earlier in the day, followed by addressing a press conference at 12 noon, news agency PTI reported.
Security including four DCPs, three ACPs, 18 police inspectors, 45 APIs, two sub-inspectors, 470 men and 170 police personnel were deployed across the area along with two units of riot control platoons (RCPs) who remained on standby to take precautionary measures.
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“We have made comprehensive arrangements to ensure that the protest proceeds peacefully. Sufficient number of police personnel will be deployed at Samvidhan Chowk and other sensitive locations to maintain law and order,” a senior officer told PTI.
“Everyone has the right to peaceful protest. However, any attempt to violate the law, cause disturbances or disturb public peace will not be tolerated. Strict action will be taken against anyone found violating the law.”
Traffic diversions have been introduced on several important roads including Samvidhan Chowk, Variety Chowk, Zero Mile and Sitabuldi. In addition, motorists have been advised to use alternative routes in the interest of police cooperation.
(Slabgate) in Jaipur
Security concerns have increased following an incident at the Jaipur protest on Monday when Debaki was repeatedly slapped by a few individuals in the crowd while two supporters carried him on their shoulders.
Party workers condemned the incident in strong words, with Debke hinting at the involvement of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangha (RSS). “There were some people who belonged to the RSS, and there is nothing new about it,” he said, as HT reported earlier.
CJP spokesperson Abhishek Jain Bittu suggested that the police may have been involved in the incident due to their failure to restrain them and respond appropriately. Neelam Kranti, one of the protest participants, pointed to the lack of support from the police despite the request for help.
CJP spokesperson Sourav Das also linked the culprits to the BJP in a separate social media post.
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Despite the seriousness of the incident, Dibek urged his supporters to remain focused on their goal of Dharmidra Pradhan’s resignation and broad education reform in the country.
“The goons responsible for the cowardly attack on Abhijit Debki have a political nexus with the BJP-RSS,” he wrote.
“The attack deserves unequivocal condemnation. We are peace-loving citizens and affirm our constitutional right to dissent and seek accountability. Violence and intimidation cannot silence legitimate demands.”
Police have now arrested two young men in this incident.
