Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar : Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke's parents said on Saturday that the family was under "immense pressure" during the nationwide students' agitation, led by the outfit, and even received "death threats".
However, parents of the CJP founder expressed their happiness, saying they were "proud" of their son for spearheading the movement that led to the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
Speaking to IANS, Abhijeet's father Bhagwanrao Dipke said: "He (Abhijeet) has my blessings. His first movement has met with success; I congratulate him and hope that he continues to do good work in the future."
Moreover, he thanked Dharmendra Pradhan for taking the "right step".
"He (Pradhan) listened to the students; in his resignation letter, he even mentioned the need to focus on the students' education...it is a big thing," the CJP founder's father said.
Bhagwanrao Dipke said that the family was under "immense pressure" and that there were even "death threats coming in via YouTube".
"People were saying all sorts of things. I was extremely anxious and terrified. Out of that fear, we even left our home and stayed away for 15 to 20 days," he added.
He asserted that Abhijeet Dipke spearheaded the agitation "selflessly".
Upon receiving the news of the Education Minister's resignation, Abhijeet's mother Anita Dipke got emotional, saying: "People have been telling me that Abhijeet did a great job. I was very scared after he was attacked and slapped. It felt terrible, and I couldn't sleep or eat because of it."
She told reporters that she was proud of her son that he could achieve success with the movement "at such a young age".
Later, while speaking to IANS, the CJP founder's mother said: "It is a very good development for the students. The government has listened to their demands. I am happy that Dharmendra Pradhan resigned."
"After so many days, we have finally received some good news, and today is also the auspicious occasion of 'Ashadhi Ekadashi'," she added.
Echoing that there was "lot of pressure", Dipke's mother criticised the "lathi charge" on student protesters during the July 20 'Sansad Chalo' march.
"They were students, who beats girls like that? Clothes were also torn," she said while maintaining that the family was stressed for Abhijeet's safety.
Regarding her plans to go to national capital, Anita Dipke said: "He (Abhijeet) said that he would get emotional seeing us in Delhi. He asked us to visit only when he calls us."
--IANS
