A delegation from India’s Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) was attacked while visiting a school in Rajasthan that the party says is being run out of a cowshed. The delegation, led by joint convener Ashutosh Ranka, had gone to inspect the school as part of the party’s “Fix the School” campaign, under which CJP has been visiting government schools in various parts of the country to examine firsthand how they are run and what problems and shortfalls exist.
As part of that campaign, Ranka’s delegation visited a school in Rampura Kanwarpura village in Jaipur, Rajasthan, on August 21. CJP alleges that their vehicle was stopped before it could enter the village, and that when delegation members then tried to walk to the school, a section of villagers blocked their way. The party further alleges that some people had already gathered at the site in preparation for an attack. A clash between the two sides left several people injured.
CJP representative Rekha Sharma said the delegation, led by Ranka, had gone to the village after learning that a government school there was being run out of a cowshed. She said their vehicle was stopped at the edge of the village, and when they began walking in, several people hurled abuse at them after they had gone some distance.
“We repeatedly asked them to hear us out,” she said. “We had gone to see the school at the villagers’ own invitation. But our group was pelted with bricks and stones from all sides and attacked with sticks.”
CJP alleges that one of its representatives, Sanju Verma, had his arm broken in the attack. Another member, identified only as Salman, was seriously injured and is being treated in hospital. The party also alleges that Rekha Sharma was attacked with dust thrown in her eyes. The complaint states that some video of the incident is circulating on social media.
Separately, police have filed a case against the CJP delegation based on a complaint from a villager identified as Bhagwan Sahay Dhanka. In his complaint, he alleged that Ashutosh Ranka arrived in the village with 50 to 60 people around 9 a.m. Friday, and that, under the pretext of inspecting the school, they hurled abuse at villagers, including making derogatory remarks toward women in the village. He further alleged that when villagers tried to reason with them, the CJP delegation began assaulting people and hurled caste-based insults.
CJP has also filed a counter-complaint, based on which police have registered a separate FIR.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report