Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) chief Sharad Pawar has extended support to the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) movement and backed a demand seeking the withdrawal of cases filed against protesters, political communications strategist Abhijeet Dipke told OneIndia on Tuesday.
Speaking exclusively with OneIndia, Abhijeet Dipke said the veteran leader's first concern was the welfare of students who were allegedly injured during Monday's Chalo Sansad protest march at Delhi's Jantar Mantar.
"First, he asked about what happened yesterday. He asked how the students who were beaten up were doing and what the condition of the students admitted to hospitals was. He also said that if any student needed special treatment or assistance, we should let him know," Dipke said. CJP Removes Spokesperson Vijeta Dahiya Over Absence During Sansad Chalo Protest And Burger Video "He came with a lot of concern," he added. According to Dipke, NCP Chief then sought details about the protesters' demands. While the NCP (SP) chief was already aware of the CJP's earlier demands, Dipke said he urged Pawar to support a fresh demand seeking the withdrawal of cases registered against protesters. "I told him we wanted to add one more demand that all cases filed against students who were peacefully protesting across the country should be withdrawn. The police cannot subject students to such torture and brutality," Dipke said. "He said he supported us on that issue as well," he added. Dipke alleged that Pawar was briefed about incidents that took place during the protest and expressed concern over the handling of demonstrators. "He has heard everything and said that the government has forgotten how to listen," Dipke claimed. Asked about photographs showing a cordial meeting between BJP president JP Nadda and CJP leaders, Dipke said the images did not reflect what protesters experienced on the ground at Jantar Mantar. "People keep saying that a photograph showed a cordial meeting between JP Nadda and CJP and a positive atmosphere, but whatever happened here at Jantar Mantar tells a different story," Dipke told OneIndia. He alleged that CJP spokesperson Saurav Das was made to sit down and that his phone was seized. Dipke further claimed that while protest leaders were being invited for talks, force was simultaneously being used against demonstrators. "On one hand, people were being invited for talks, and on the other hand, lathis were being used against 15-year-old girls. Their clothes were torn and they were beaten by male police officers," he alleged. Anish Gawande, who is the spokesperson of the NCP, said that the Nationalist Congress Party (SP) has stood with the agitation from the beginning. "The Nationalist Congress Party (SP) has supported this movement from the very first day. All eight of our MPs will raise this issue in Parliament, whether the government listens or not," he said. Dipke also claimed that organisers had informed police personnel about Pawar's planned visit and requested temporary access through the barricades. However, he alleged that the request was repeatedly redirected between officials before Pawar eventually interacted with protesters near the barricaded area. There was no immediate response from Delhi Police to the allegations made by Dipke. The claims could not be independently verified.NCP (SP) MPs To Raise Issue In Parliament