CJP team confronted on way to Rajasthan school; Ranka says BJP goons, not villagers

In Rampura Kanwarpura village of Jaipur’s Bagru Assembly constituency, tensions escalated on Friday morning as residents opposed the visit of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) team to the local government primary school. The residents prevented CJP activists from entering the village and verbally confronted them, leading to scuffles.

Roadblocks were set up even before the activists reached the village. Ashutosh Ranka, co-convenor of CJP, accused the team of being "goons summoned by the BJP," alleging that their leader, Kamal Pradhan, is involved in land encroachment in the area. He further stated that children were being taught in a cowshed surrounded by buffaloes, and the BJP was sending goons to prevent any interference.

This incident unfolds amid ongoing education protests across India, now focusing on the basic condition of school facilities. The CJP, which led a NEET protest in Delhi, has now shifted its campaign towards infrastructure and accountability. In Rajasthan, villagers have protested the lack of classrooms, toilets, drinking water, and other basic facilities at schools.

When informed of the issue, villagers claimed they would repair the school themselves, emphasizing they would not allow "outsiders" into the village. Ranka told The Indian Express that the government was attempting to stop the party from exposing the poor state of government schools. He accused the Education Minister of employing "dictatorship" to conceal the inadequate conditions in Rajasthan’s schools.

The CJP team had scheduled visits to two government schools in Jaipur on Friday to evaluate the education system, infrastructure, and facilities for students, as well as to engage with teachers and students. The visit also stems from a larger political dispute following a recent CJP inspection, which prompted the Education Department to issue directions limiting public and media access to government schools without permission, a move the CJP deemed unjust.

The team is set to visit Bhatta Wala Government School on Vatika Road at 11:30 am, aiming to assess the school's academic performance, student amenities, infrastructure, and interactions with teachers and students.