NEW DELHI: Anita Dipke, mother of Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke, on Wednesday voiced concern over the police action against students during the ‘Sansad Chalo’ march in New Delhi, saying it was “extremely painful” to watch them being beaten.She urged the Centre to listen to the protesters’ demands and ensure the immediate release of those detained.Anita Dipke’s remarks came days after Delhi Police used tear gas shells and lathi-charged protesters on Parliament Street as thousands of CJP supporters marched towards Parliament demanding the resignation of Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the alleged NEET paper leak.The CJP has alleged that security personnel used excessive force during the march, leaving several students injured.Speaking to Marathi news channel Zee 24 Taas in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Anita Dipke said she was deeply disturbed by the visuals of the police action.“I wish the government would listen to the agitating students and release them as soon as possible. I am worried after seeing the students beaten brutally. Watching all this has left me emotional,” she said.Calling the police action distressing, she added, “It is extremely painful to see students being beaten like animals.”She said the students had done nothing to deserve such treatment and expressed concern over their safety.Anita Dipke also said visits by leaders, including NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar, Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray and activist Manoj Jarange, had provided some reassurance to the protesters.Accusing the Centre of delaying action on the students’ demands, she said the government was merely buying time.“The government is simply buying time. It won elections with the support of people, but is now not listening to them. Students are demanding the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan, and the government should listen to them,” she said.She further blamed the government for the escalation of the agitation.“The first mistake was made by the government when it used lathis on the students who had been protesting peacefully for a month. Had it heard their demands earlier, the situation would not have worsened,” she said.(With PTI inputs)
