Two youths who were on an indefinite hunger strike against the functioning and leadership of Cockroach Janata Party founder Abhijit Dipke were hospitalised after their health deteriorated on Monday, August 10. The two protesters, identified as Manish Brahmabhat and Rahul Pandya, were admitted to Government Medical College and Hospital (Ghati) after a medical examination found that their condition required treatment.
Both protesters are from Ahmedabad and are members of the CJP. They had begun their hunger strike on August 6 in the Divisional Commissionerate area, raising objections to Dipke’s leadership and the manner in which the party’s core team was constituted.
Hunger Strike Over CJP Core Team Formation
Brahmabhat and Pandya alleged that Dipke had formed the party’s core team arbitrarily. They argued that the organisation represented a broader national movement rather than an individual and demanded greater representation from different states.
The two protesters had demanded that five members from each state be included in the core team constituted by Dipke. According to them, no decision was taken on their demand despite raising the issue with the party leadership.
They subsequently decided to launch an indefinite hunger strike from August 6.
The protesters initially sat near Dipke’s residence. However, police officials reportedly advised them to shift the protest to the Divisional Commissionerate area, telling them that they could not continue their fast near his residence. The two subsequently moved their hunger strike to the Commissionerate premises.
Health Deteriorates On Fourth Day
On Monday morning at around 8:30 am, the two protesters were examined by medical personnel. Following the examination, the medical team informed the police that their health had deteriorated and that they required medical treatment.
The police subsequently took both men to the hospital in an ambulance.
Their hospitalisation raised questions over whether the hunger strike had effectively ended. However, according to information given to Sakal, the protest has continued through a chain hunger strike.
Three other youths have reportedly begun a chain hunger strike in place of the two hospitalised protesters.
Those joining the fresh hunger strike include Ayan Khan from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Farooq Khan from Jalna and Sunil Desai from Ahmedabad.
The development means that the protest against Dipke’s leadership and the constitution of the CJP core team is continuing despite the hospitalisation of the original hunger strikers.
Police Boys Association Takes On Abhijit Dipke
Meanwhile, a separate confrontation has emerged between the Police Boys Association and Dipke.
On Tuesday, August 11, members of the Police Boys Association staged a silent protest outside the District Collector’s Office in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. The association demanded the immediate withdrawal of police protection provided to Dipke and strict legal action against him.
The protest followed allegations made by Dipke regarding the conduct of police personnel outside his residence on August 7.
What Triggered The Police Association’s Protest?
Dipke had alleged that police personnel behaved rudely with people who had arrived at his residence to meet him.
Reacting to the incident, Dipke reportedly expressed his anger over the police conduct and said that he did not need the police to decide whom he could meet. He also reportedly asked a police officer to leave.
The remarks subsequently triggered opposition from the Police Boys Association.
The association accused Dipke of attempting to tarnish the image of the police administration and objected to what it described as his politically motivated conduct and alleged violation of the rights of police personnel and their families.
Association Demands Withdrawal Of Police Protection
The Police Boys Association has demanded that Dipke’s police protection be withdrawn immediately and that legal action be taken against him.
The association said that publicly insulting a police officer deployed to protect citizens was not merely an insult to an individual officer but an affront to the entire police force and the rule of law.
After submitting a representation to the District Collector, the protesters temporarily withdrew their demonstration. However, the association warned that it would continue to oppose what it described as Dipke’s irresponsible conduct.
‘Insult To Entire Police Force’
The association said the silent protest was organised after it felt that no concrete action had been taken on an earlier representation submitted to the administration.
A large number of association office-bearers and activists participated in the demonstration, which they described as a protest for the dignity and self-respect of police personnel and their families.
The association said the administration should immediately withdraw Dipke’s police protection and initiate strict legal action if any offence had been committed.
The developments have now opened two separate fronts against Dipke in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: a protest by CJP members over the functioning of the party and its core team, and a confrontation with the Police Boys Association over allegations concerning his conduct towards police personnel.
