PM should become an influencer, says CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke as he returns home

Dipke alleged that governments in several states were tracking down and harassing students who took part in the CJP-led protests.

3 min readPuneUpdated: Jul 30, 2026 09:58 AM IST

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Dipke returned to Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar after Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned following the CJP-led march to Parliament in New Delhi.

Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke, who returned to his home on Tuesday after 40 days, took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying he should become a social media influencer “as he is good at it.”

“I think Prime Minister Modi should now become an influencer. He is doing a good job as an influencer. He should vacate the Prime Minister’s chair; another leader can handle that job,” Dipke said when asked about the Prime Minister’s Instagram reels addressing students during the protests over the NEET paper leak.

Dipke returned to Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar after Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned following the CJP-led march to Parliament in New Delhi.

Alleging harassment of student protesters, Dipke said, “After the CJP protest was called off, governments of various states are tracking down protesters and harassing them.”

Also Read | The rise and fall of Dharmendra Pradhan: BJP’s trusted organiser undone by NEET leak

“The government should stop harassing students. If it does not, protesters will teach it a lesson in the upcoming elections. The anger of the protesters has not subsided just because of the Union Minister’s resignation; it was directed at the government,” he said.

Dipke also questioned why the BJP and the RSS “failed to understand the anger of the youth.”

Asked about BJP MP Kangana Ranaut’s remarks describing videos from the CJP demonstrations as “puke-inducing”, Dipke said she was “not a serious political figure” and that the party did not attach importance to her statements.

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Also Read | How Delhi’s Jantar Mantar found out about Pradhan’s resignation, and reacted

Responding to criticism over a celebration organised by CJP spokesperson Saurav Das after Pradhan’s resignation, Dipke said the gathering was meant for party volunteers.

“Our volunteers spent 36 days sitting day and night on the streets. That party was for them. BJP leaders and workers celebrate on the streets when they win elections. We celebrated indoors instead of on the streets. What is wrong if the volunteers enjoyed themselves for a single day? Wasn’t the BJP ashamed of the way Dharmendra Pradhan was welcomed in Parliament after the suicides of 21 students?” he said.

Manoj Dattatrye More

Manoj Dattatrye More is a Senior Editor at The Indian Express, having been with the publication since 1992. Based in Pune, he is a veteran journalist with a 33-year career that spans editorial desk work, investigative reporting, and political analysis. Professional Legacy Experience: He spent his first 16 years on the editorial desk before moving into active field reporting. He has written over 20,000 stories, including more than 10,000 bylined articles. Impact Journalism: He is widely respected for "campaign-style" reporting that leads to tangible social change. Road Safety: His decade-long campaign regarding the dangerous state of the Pune-Mumbai highway in Khadki resulted in a ₹23 crore reconstruction project in 2006, which dramatically reduced fatalities. Environmental Protection: His reports against tree cutting on the Pune-Mumbai and Pune-Nashik highways saved approximately 2,000 trees. Anti-Corruption: During the COVID-19 pandemic, he exposed a scam where doctors were being asked to pay bribes for government jobs, resulting in them being hired without payment. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Manoj More's recent work focuses heavily on the shifting political landscape of Maharashtra and civic governance in the Pimpri-Chinchwad area: 1. Political Shifts & Alliances "Ajit Pawar's NCP continues domination in Pune, wins 10 of 17 local bodies" (Dec 21, 2025): A major report on the local self-government election results, detailing the NCP’s stronghold in Baramati, Indapur, and Lonavala. "BJP ropes in 13 ex-corporators, deals major blow to NCP" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on a significant political defection in Pimpri-Chinchwad as the BJP gears up for civic polls. "Congress opts for solo BMC run as alliance talks with Sena (UBT) collapse" (Dec 17, 2025): Covering the breakdown of Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) talks for the Mumbai civic elections. "NCP(SP)'s Rahul Kalate, Sena (UBT) leader Sanjog Waghere set to join BJP" (Dec 19, 2025): Detailing high-profile party-hopping ahead of the municipal elections. 2. Civic & Administrative Accountability "PCMC draws ire for issuing tenders worth Rs 250 crore just before poll code" (Dec 17, 2025): An investigative piece on the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation’s last-minute spending spree before election restrictions. "93 killed in 76 accidents in five years: Bypass service roads in Pune remain undeveloped for 18 yrs" (Nov 16, 2025): A critical look at the long-delayed infrastructure projects contributing to fatalities on Pune’s bypass roads. 3. Social & Labor Issues "As state says TCS has laid off 376 employees: FITE flags figures, say nearly 2,500 were forced to quit" (Dec 11, 2025): Investigating conflicting reports regarding IT sector layoffs in Maharashtra. "Maharashtra govt move to 'downgrade' Aadhaar cards" (Nov 30, 2025): Reporting on the state’s decision to require additional documents alongside Aadhaar to combat identity misuse. Signature Beat Manoj More is the definitive voice on Pimpri-Chinchwad, an industrial hub he has covered for three decades. His reporting is characterized by its aggressive stance against local "gondaism" (thuggery) and a relentless focus on civic infrastructure—choked drains, garbage management, and public transport. X (Twitter): @manojmore91982 ... Read More

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