Dipke announces nationwide campaign 'Kya Bolti Public' to address people's issues

Abhijeet Dipke said the CJP will continue to function as a public pressure group instead of transforming into a political party, asserting that the nation currently needs a people's movement to restore accountability in democratic institutions.

In Short

• CJP to launch 'Kya Bolti Public' campaign across India from September
• Inspired by Ambedkar, Gandhi and Nehru's ideals promoting social justice
• Focus on youth concerns including unemployment and education reforms

Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke on Thursday announced a nationwide public outreach campaign, 'Kya Bolti Public', saying the party would travel across the country from September to engage with citizens and make issues such as unemployment, education reforms and social justice central to its political agenda.

Addressing the media after a two-day party deliberation, Dipke, who emerged as the face of the CJP-led Gen Z agitation at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi last month that resulted in the resignation of then Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, said the party will continue to act as a pressure group instead of transforming into a political party.

Dipke, while making the announcement siad that the campaign would seek to understand the aspirations, expectations and concerns of people, particularly the youth.

"After two days of discussions, we have decided that the Cockroach Janta Party will launch a nationwide campaign in September. The campaign will be called 'Kya Bolti Public'," Dipke said.

"Through this campaign, we aim to understand the aspirations, expectations and concerns of people across the country," he added.

Claiming that India's young population has been neglected, Dipke said nearly 65 per cent of the country's population is below the age of 35 but their concerns have failed to find space in mainstream political discourse.

"Nearly 65 per cent of India's population is below 35 years old, yet this government does not seem to care about their concerns. No one is willing to speak about these issues. We will go to the people, understand their expectations, and listen to the problems they are facing," he said.

Dipke said CJP would push for education reforms aimed at making education more affordable and accessible. "The cost of education has increased significantly, with students facing higher tuition fees and families having to bear substantial educational expenses," he said.

He also sought to make unemployment a key national issue, arguing that the lack of quality employment opportunities has left many young people disillusioned.

"There are hardly any jobs in our country. Many of the people who gathered at Jantar Mantar were unemployed. No one's dream or aspiration is to become a Swiggy delivery executive or a delivery boy out of compulsion," he said.

Claiming that a large number of educated young people remain unemployed despite earning degrees, Dipke said, "Nearly 80 per cent of the country's youth remain unemployed even after earning a degree," he claimed, adding that "people who never completed their education or do not hold degrees are running the government" and are "deciding the future of educated young people."

"I now want to make unemployment a national issue. As a government, you cannot continue to ignore the unemployment crisis," he added.

Reaffirming the party's ideological position, Dipke said the CJP would be guided by the ideals of Dr BR Ambedkar, Mahatma Gandhi and India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.

"Our ideology will be rooted in the values of the Constitution of India. We are secular. We believe in democracy. We are democratic, and we will continue to work for social justice," he said.

He added that the party would draw inspiration from "Mahatma Gandhi's message of peace and non-violence, Ambedkar's vision of social justice, and Jawaharlal Nehru's dream of a modern India."

Furthermore, Dipke credited students with forcing political change, alleging that the country had witnessed years of suppression and authoritarianism before the recent developments.

"It was the students who forced this government to resign. Over the last 14 years, the country witnessed suppression and authoritarianism. That fear has now ended. The most important thing is that people are no longer afraid," he said.

- Ends