Cockroach Janta Party Seeks Indian Youth Congress Coordination for NEET Protest, Rebuffed

NEW DELHI: On the eve of its much-touted NEET protest, newly minted online outfit Cockroach Janta Party is learnt to have approached Indian Youth Congress for coordination, even though the overture was not reciprocated by the latter. Sources said a key CJP figure met IYC president Uday Bhanu Chib at the latter’s office. While the details of their conversation are not known, IYC sources said the online party may have felt the need to understand the dynamics of protest and for organisational coordination to seek participation of IYC volunteers – which would also help it gain broader acceptability. When approached, Chib told TOI that IYC will not share the platform with any other outfit, adding that it is holding its own protests over the “serious” issue across the country and is focused on seeking accountability from Modi govt. Congress strategists view CJP with scepticism, with suspicion of a political hand behind its sudden emergence, as reported by TOI. Chib said, “ ... We welcome any organization that wants to highlight the issue which concerns the future of our youth. But our joining any other platform is ruled out.” As the newbie started gaining traction on social media after the announcement of its US-based founder Abhijeet Dipke that he will land in the capital on June 6 and lead a protest, Congress is learnt to have cautioned its members to stay focused on the party’s protest programme on NEET-CBSE issue, and not be distracted by any other organisation. IYC and NSUI are holding demonstrations across cities on the NEET paper leak and CBSE OSM row. On Saturday, when CJP moves with its planned protest at Jantar Mantar and Parliament Street police station, IYC will hold a mega protest in Kurushetra in Haryana – a point that will highlight the contrast between the two organisations. Chib said, “Rahul Gandhi has been leading this battle against NEET paper leak for two years now. IYC is holding its nationwide protest for weeks and will continue to do so. We welcome any organization that wants to highlight the issue which concerns the future of our youth. But our joining any other platform is ruled out.”