An unidentified youth slapped Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke during a protest in Jaipur [1].
The incident highlights the volatility surrounding the alleged NEET paper leak, a controversy that has sparked nationwide student unrest and political friction in India.
The assault occurred on Monday during a rally where the Cockroach Janta Party demanded the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan [1]. The assailant approached Dipke, pulled him, and slapped him [1]. While some reports describe a single strike, other accounts state Dipke was slapped four times [3].
In a video interview, the attacker said Dipke is misleading the country's youth [2]. He said the paper leak is just a "bahana" — or excuse — and that Dipke was using the issue as a pretext for his political activities [2].
Dipke responded to the attack by addressing the nature of the confrontation. "Physical attacks show fear & cowardice," Dipke said [2].
The protest was part of a larger movement seeking accountability for the integrity of national examinations. The confrontation between the party leader and the youth reflects the deep divisions regarding how the leak is being leveraged by various political factions.
“"Physical attacks show fear & cowardice"”
This incident underscores the high emotional stakes of the NEET paper leak scandal, where academic frustration is intersecting with political mobilization. The attacker's claim that the issue is being used as a 'pretext' suggests a growing narrative that student grievances are being co-opted for political gain, potentially complicating the push for systemic educational reform.
