It is Mission West Bengal for the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), which has launched fundraising efforts for the family of its supporter Abdul Hafiz, despite the government denying them compensation.
The CJP has placed a four-point demand before the government. It has sought security for Hafiz’s family, action against those responsible for the attack, an investigation into the alleged role of police negligence, and fulfilment of Abdul Hafiz’s request to the government to build a school in his father’s name.
This was apart from the CJP’s 10-day ultimatum to the Suvendu Adhikari government to arrest all those accused in the attack and the subsequent death of 50-year-old Sheikh Mafik in Indas, Bankura district, last week. Eight people have been arrested so far. The CJP has threatened to gherao administrative offices across Bankura district if its demands are not met.
Mafik was Hafiz’s father, and the attack on the family comes after alleged anger over their efforts to highlight the dismal condition of schools in Bankura. The CJP said it would continue its ‘School Theek Karo’ campaign, urging people to come forward with similar complaints about schools and put pressure on the BJP government to address them.
“CJP is not scared of anything. The motto remains to improve the quality of education in the country,” said Ashutosh Ranka, Co-convenor of the CJP. He stated that more than 2,000 schools have shut down in West Bengal and called for their revival.
The CJP has also asked the BJP government to present a five-point plan to improve the education system in the country, saying it is ready to extend its full support to the government.
“An internal meeting was called at Bharat Sabha Hall, but despite the booking, the authorities stated that due to pressure from the BJP, they could not allow the meeting to take place at the designated hall,” Ranka alleged. He also claimed that the party faced a non-conducive environment while attempting to hold a press conference despite seeking permission a day in advance.
The CJP also criticised the BJP over Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s use of the term ‘dimagi naxal’ during his Independence Day speech and the subsequent creation of a social media page using the same name, similar to the manner in which the CJP gained momentum. “I have one request to the BJP. Change your 15-year-old playbook where you term people Pakistani or anti-national. Earlier, you called them urban naxals; now you call them dimagi naxals. At least they admit that people have a brain. Then you resort to beating, spreading violence, propaganda and misinformation. Change your playbook,” Ranka said.
“Why do you (BJP) attach a conspiracy theory to every protest? According to the BJP whatever is happening which is not aligned with their ideology is a conspiracy," he added.
The CJP asked the PM to come forward and seek suggestions from common people on genuine issues and work in tandem with people’s concerns before it is too late.
