‘Abhijeet Dipke Is an Avatar of Lord Vishnu’: Uddhav Thackeray’s Remark on CJP Sparks Political Storm

A fresh political controversy has erupted after Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray compared Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke to an “avatar of Lord Vishnu,” crediting the student-led movement against the NEET paper leak for breathing new life into Indian democracy.

Speaking in an interview with senior party leader Sanjay Raut, published in the Shiv Sena (UBT) mouthpiece Saamana, Thackeray described the nationwide student agitation as a defining moment in India’s democratic journey.

‘Lord Vishnu has taken the form of the people’

Referring to the protests at Jantar Mantar, Thackeray said the youth-led movement represented the collective strength of the people.

He remarked that “Vishnu has taken the form of the people” and said the young protesters were working to protect the “religion of humanity” by standing up against injustice in the education system.

According to Thackeray, the movement was not merely about the NEET paper leak but reflected a wider struggle for accountability and democratic values.

‘The protest gave oxygen to democracy’

The former Maharashtra Chief Minister said the CJP-led agitation had “given oxygen to democracy,” claiming that democratic institutions were losing public confidence before the student movement gathered momentum.

He described the protests as a reflection of growing public frustration over issues such as unemployment, inflation, and governance, arguing that the demonstrations resonated with concerns extending well beyond examination irregularities.

Attack on the BJP

Launching a sharp attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Thackeray alleged that the ruling party had become “drunk with power” and had lost touch with the concerns of ordinary citizens.

He asserted that the political landscape was changing, stating that either the BJP would have to reform itself or the electorate would bring about political change.

Thackeray also suggested that the scale of the student protests highlighted a broader erosion of public trust in both the government and the Opposition, signalling growing impatience among young voters.

Warning over youth movements

Drawing comparisons with student-led movements in neighbouring countries, Thackeray warned against underestimating the power of youth-led protests.

He argued that governments should pay attention to public sentiment, cautioning that unresolved grievances could eventually develop into a larger mass movement if corrective action is not taken in time.

According to him, once young people unite around a common cause, their determination can become a powerful force for change.

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Remarks trigger political reactions

Thackeray’s comparison of Abhijeet Dipke and the student protesters to Lord Vishnu quickly sparked political reactions.

Supporters of the movement welcomed the remarks, calling them recognition of the students’ role in raising issues related to examination reforms and accountability. Meanwhile, several BJP leaders criticised the analogy, with party leader Tajinder Bagga mocking the statement on social media.

Backdrop of the controversy

The comments come after weeks of protests led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) over the NEET controversy. The agitation gained nationwide attention after activist Sonam Wangchuk joined the movement with a hunger strike at Jantar Mantar.

Following sustained demonstrations, former Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned from his post.

The CJP later ended its protest after the Centre agreed to several of its remaining demands, including compensation for families of students who allegedly died by suicide in connection with the controversy and the withdrawal of cases registered against protesters.

Soon after the agitation concluded, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the formation of a high-powered examination reforms task force headed by Nandan Nilekani, while the government also moved to strengthen the country’s anti-paper leak legislation through amendments in Parliament.