Expressing sharp anger over the dilapidated condition of government schools in India’s Maharashtra, Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) founder Abhijit Deepke has demanded the resignation of the state’s school education minister. He alleged that government school students are being denied basic facilities, and that ministers’ dogs receive better treatment than they do.
Deepke made the comments after visiting a school as part of CJP’s “Fix the School” campaign, launched last week.
He alleged that many government schools in the state lack basic facilities such as adequate classrooms, benches, toilets and safe routes to travel. He also alleged that students at some schools are being treated “worse than animals.”
Deepke said: “This is a question of students’ lives. If political leaders do nothing for students, why should people vote for them? Do people vote for them just so they can travel by helicopter? People should see the conditions their children are studying in. Even these ministers’ dogs get better facilities than this.”
Calling for political leaders to be held accountable for improving education, he said leaders must resolve school-related problems before coming to ask for votes. Just as people step out of their homes carrying the banners of political identity, caste and community, he said, everyone must also come forward for the sake of their children’s schools.
Criticizing religion-centered politics, Deepke said greater priority needs to be given to children’s education and future. In his words: “They always say religion is in danger. If religion hasn’t ended after all these years, will it end during their rule? Religion isn’t going anywhere, but children’s futures could be damaged.”
He further said ministers and legislators should enroll their own children in these government schools to understand their true condition.
Asked whether Education Minister Dada Bhuse should remain in his post, Deepke said that, given the current state of the schools, he believes the education minister should not remain in that position.
Deepke alleged that despite being in power for a long time, the government has failed to bring about significant improvement in government schools. He said many students are still studying under leaking tin roofs and without adequate benches.
He said: “If these basic problems can’t be solved even after 10 years, the government needs to explain what it has actually achieved.”
He also demanded safe transportation for students who walk several kilometers to reach school. Raising the issue of alleged child deaths from snakebites at schools, he said such incidents highlight the government’s failure to ensure a safe learning environment.
Deepke also alleged that at a school previously visited by a CJP team, garbage and abandoned items piled up behind the school building had created conditions conducive to snake infestation.
However, he claimed that authorities at some schools have begun taking action following CJP’s inspections.
Noting that the Gen Z generation will become a major voting bloc in the 2029 election, Deepke said that if young people’s problems are ignored, the government will have to answer to them in the future.
He also warned that widespread rural protests could emerge if the condition of government schools does not improve.
Deepke also raised questions over the CBI investigation into the NEET question-paper leak in Latur. He alleged the investigation is targeting low-level accused while attempts are being made to shield influential individuals.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report