New Delhi: Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke on Saturday announced that he had begun an indefinite hunger strike shortly after activist Sonam Wangchuk was shifted by the Delhi Police from the Jantar Mantar protest site to Safdarjung Hospital.
"I am commencing my indefinite hunger strike from today. I appeal to everyone not to back down; this movement will only grow bigger. They have made a grave mistake. I urge everyone to come to Jantar Mantar. Our movement will continue from here, and we will proceed with our march scheduled for July 20," Dipke said.
Wangchuk was shifted to the hospital early on Saturday, with the Delhi Police citing medical advice and directions of the Delhi High Court after his health reportedly deteriorated on the 21st day of his indefinite fast.
Police have tightened security at Jantar Mantar and Safdarjung Hospital in view of the chances of a protest by CJP.
Following the police action, Dipke alleged that he was assaulted and detained by the Delhi Police during what he described as a crackdown on protesters at Jantar Mantar. However, police said Wangchuk was shifted for "essential medical care" and appealed to protesters to vacate the site peacefully.
Dipke claimed that a team of police personnel stopped him at a friend's house, where he had gone to freshen up, while another police team removed Wangchuk from the protest site. He further alleged that "RSS goons" posing as police personnel attacked CJP activists at Jantar Mantar.
"At 7 am, when I stepped out to freshen up, police personnel arrived. They dragged Sonam Sir away while hurling abuses at him. A 60-year-old man, who had been on a hunger strike for 20 days without eating anything, was forcibly taken away by the Delhi Police. We have no idea where they have taken him. When I received the news and was on my way to Jantar Mantar from my friend's house, the police assaulted me as well," Dipke alleged.
"These aren't police officers; they are RSS goons. I returned to my country from abroad—am I a criminal? They are goons, not police, but RSS goons," he claimed.
Wangchuk has been on an indefinite hunger strike since June 28 in support of the CJP-led protest over alleged irregularities in the NEET examination and the reported deaths of students linked to the controversy.
Dipke's announcement came as protests continued at Jantar Mantar, with All India Students' Association (AISA) activists Neha, Aameen and Manish also continuing their hunger strike following Wangchuk's hospitalisation.