‘Attempt to intimidate…don't get distracted’: Dipke vows to continue protest after Jaipur slap incident

HOurs after he was allegedly slapped at a dissent in Jaipur, roach Janta company beginner Abhijeet Dipke urged those associated with the movements to “ non get distracted.”Terming the incident as an “attempt to scare and intimidate”, Dipke said that the CJP will continue to demand the resignation of union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan “peacefully.” In a post on X after the incident, Dipke said that “physical attacks are a sign of fear and cowardice.”“We will continue to raise our voices peacefully. I am a follower of Gandhi and Ambedkar, and I will keep fighting this battle with peace and love. PS: Dharmendra Pradhan must resign!” Dipke added. Speaking about the incident, he said, “I was assaulted while entering the protest site.”Also Read | Prakash Raj joins CJP Protest in Bengaluru‘Slap me ten times, we will stand firm’Dipke, in a video message posted later to his official X handle, claimed the incident on Monday was carried out as a “tactic” to “scare, intimidate and distract” the protestors.“Our sole demand is the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan. Pradhan will have to resign for the injustice done to students, for those who have committed suicide,” the CJP founder said. Dipke, after the incident, said he would not raise his hand “against anyone, no matter how many attacks take place.”He further urged the outfit's followers to “not get distracted”, and “stand firm” on their demand. “Slap me not once but ten times, but we will keep on saying, “Dharmendra Pradhan must resign,”” Dipke said. The CJP founder also requested the protestors to “not raise” their hands. “No matter how many times they attack us, we must not raise our hands. Our movement is peaceful and we will only proceed with peace and love,” Dipke asserted. He said that “cowards resort to violence”, adding that he would “not remain silent.”What happened during the Jaipur protest?Dipke was manhandled before he could address the crowd at the CJP protest at Shaheed Smarak in Rajasthan's Jaipur on Monday. Dipke, who was on his way to address the rally, was being carried on the shoulders of supporters when some miscreants in the crowd pulled at his scarf. Following this, these unidentified people slapped him multiple times, and attempted to pull him down, as seen in videos obtained by HT.After the incident, CJP state spokesperson Abhishek Jain Bittu accused the administration of failing to prevent the incident. “The manner in which this attack took place raises serious questions about the role of the police and the government. Instead of stopping anti-social elements, the administration allowed the situation to unfold. The conduct of the Rajasthan government and police is condemnable, and action should be taken against the officials involved,” he said.While permission had been granted for 800 people, a much larger crowd had gathered at the protest venue on Monday, people aware of the matter told HT.