Abhijeet Dipke Rejects Funding Allegations, Says NEET Reform Fight Remains His Priority

Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke has defended the funding of his overseas education after questions were raised through a Right to Information (RTI) query, asserting that his studies were financed through a scholarship and an education loan.

Speaking to PTI from his residence in Maharashtra’s Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Dipke said he welcomed any investigation into his educational expenses and remained confident about the transparency of his finances. He said he received a scholarship from Boston University and took an education loan for the remaining amount, which is still pending repayment.

Dipke’s remarks came after he led a high-profile campaign against alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG examination, with students across several cities demanding reforms and accountability. The protests gained significant support among young people, though some demonstrations witnessed clashes with police and led to cases against student protesters in multiple states.

Rejecting comparisons between the CJP-led movement and political protests in Bangladesh and Nepal, Dipke said his campaign was focused on education issues and student concerns, and not on political movements elsewhere.

The activist also appealed to the Maharashtra government to withdraw pending cases against student demonstrators, saying they were only raising concerns about their future. He criticised the criminal action against a 15-year-old girl accused of making controversial remarks during a Delhi protest, arguing that minors should not face severe legal consequences for such incidents.

Dipke further raised concerns over the rising cost of education in India, stating that higher education had become increasingly unaffordable and inaccessible for many families. He said the CJP would expand its team and continue working towards reforms in the education system.

The 30-year-old, who holds a Master of Science degree in Public Relations from Boston University’s College of Communication, said questions over his personal finances would not distract from the larger issue of ensuring fairness and transparency in competitive examinations.