'They Are Indians, Not Pakistanis': Bhagwan Dipke Slams 'Merciless' Government as Son Begins Indefinite Fast

The political atmosphere at Jantar Mantar has shifted from defiant protest to raw, emotional confrontation. Following the forced midnight hospitalization of activist Sonam Wangchuk, Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke has officially taken the baton, commencing his own indefinite hunger strike.

But as the 24-year-old internet activist sat cross-legged on the protest stage—his clothes still bearing the stains of a recent ink attack—it was the words of his father, Bhagwan Dipke, that dominated the national headlines and captured the emotional weight of the movement.

In a highly charged meeting with political activist Yogendra Yadav at the protest site, Bhagwan Dipke delivered a devastating critique of the state's handling of the Gen Z uprising, questioning the very democratic fabric of the current administration.

"They Are Not Enemy Combatants"

Bhagwan Dipke, a retired civil servant, rarely speaks to the media. However, watching his son endure an ink attack, heavy police barricading, and now a life-threatening fast, pushed him to break his silence.

"I look at these children—and they are children, 19, 20, 22 years old—and I look at the riot police surrounding them," the elder Dipke told reporters, his voice shaking with a mixture of anger and despair. "The government has deployed the Rapid Action Force. They have brought in water cannons. They have barricaded the streets as if they are preparing for a foreign invasion."

He paused, pointing a trembling finger toward the lines of heavily armed personnel. "These students are asking for clean exams. They are asking for jobs. They are Indians, not Pakistanis. Why is this government treating its own youth like enemy combatants? It is a merciless, paranoid administration that fears the very future of its own country."

The quote—"They are Indians, not Pakistanis"—instantly went viral, striking a deep chord in a nation where nationalist rhetoric is frequently weaponized to delegitimize domestic political dissent. By reclaiming the narrative of patriotism, Bhagwan Dipke challenged the government's attempt to paint the CJP as an "anti-national" front.

The Generational Divide

The interaction between Yogendra Yadav and Bhagwan Dipke highlighted a fascinating dynamic within the CJP movement: the bridging of the generational divide.

Initially, the Cockroach Janta Party was dismissed by older generations as an unserious, meme-driven internet stunt. The name itself—embracing an insult thrown at them by a politician—was deeply unconventional for Indian politics.

However, as the protests have physically manifested at Jantar Mantar, enduring 40-degree heat, monsoon rains, and police crackdowns, the parents of these Gen Z activists have begun to step forward.

"We taught our children to study hard, pass their exams, and contribute to the nation," Bhagwan Dipke stated. "They did their part. But the system leaked their papers, sold their seats, and then called them cockroaches when they complained. As a father, I am terrified for my son's health. But as a citizen, I have never been more proud."

Yogendra Yadav, a veteran of numerous political movements, echoed this sentiment. "What we are witnessing is the passing of the torch. The older political class has failed these young minds. The CJP is no longer just a student protest; it is becoming a mass civil rights movement, and the parents are now standing as a shield between their children and the state."

The Shadow of the Ink Attack

The emotional toll on the Dipke family was exacerbated by the security breach that occurred just hours prior to the hunger strike announcement. In a shocking lapse of security within the heavily guarded zone, a woman managed to approach the stage and hurl a bottle of ink-like liquid directly at Abhijeet Dipke's face.

While Abhijeet wiped the ink away and defiantly continued his speech, his father expressed grave concerns over the escalating violence.

"If someone can walk up to him with a bottle of ink while he is surrounded by 500 police officers, what stops someone from walking up with acid? Or a weapon?" Bhagwan asked. "The state is either entirely incompetent in protecting its citizens, or they are complicit in allowing these attacks to intimidate the movement."

The Fast Begins

Despite his family's fears, Abhijeet Dipke remains steadfast. Medical teams from sympathetic private hospitals have offered to monitor his vitals daily, just as they did for Sonam Wangchuk before his forced removal.

"My father's tears give me strength, not hesitation," Abhijeet posted on X shortly after his father's viral interview. "The state thought removing Wangchuk sir would break our spirit. They forgot that cockroaches survive everything. The fast begins today. The march begins on July 20. We will not be moved."

As the clock ticks down to the highly anticipated "Demand for PM's Resignation" march on July 20, the government faces a severe PR crisis. They are no longer just fighting angry students; they are now facing the fury of the students' parents. If the administration continues its "merciless" approach, as described by Bhagwan Dipke, they risk igniting a demographic timebomb that could reshape Indian politics for a generation.