School inspection row: CJP alleges attack in Rajasthan, BJP MLA dismisses group
A political controversy has erupted in Rajasthan after members of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) alleged that they were attacked by a group of men while trying to inspect a government school in Jaipur district. The incident took place in Kanvarpura village under the Bagru Assembly constituency, where the party delegation had arrived to assess the condition of a school that, according to the CJP, has been functioning from a buffalo shed for years.
Videos shared by the party on social media, which have not been independently verified, purportedly show a scuffle between CJP members and a group of men. Stones were allegedly thrown at the delegation's vehicle, damaging its rear windshield. The party claimed that around 40 of its members were injured in the confrontation and were taken to a hospital in Jaipur.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), CJP co-convenor Ashutosh Ranka accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of orchestrating the attack. "BJP goons have once again resorted to violence against our team. The BJP is fine with children continuing to study in a buffalo shed, but if we try to get these schools fixed, that is not acceptable to them," he wrote. Ranka further alleged that the attack was carried out at the behest of Rajasthan education minister Madan Dilawar. The CJP has declared that the school will be fixed "one way or another".
BJP leaders, however, dismissed the allegations and targeted the CJP. MLA Gopal Sharma mockingly remarked, "What is CJP? There is no use of a cockroach inside a house. Children and youth belong in a house." Junior home minister Jawahar Singh Bedham claimed that Congress supporters were operating behind the banner of the CJP. Social justice minister Avinash Gehlot described the group as "a party of anarchic elements".
Education minister Madan Dilawar urged schools not to become "political arenas", suggesting that certain groups were trying to spoil the educational environment for publicity. He did not directly comment on the alleged attack but emphasised that inspections should follow due procedure.
The Congress party has come out in support of the CJP activists. Former deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot criticised the Rajasthan government's decision to restrict visits by outsiders to government schools, accusing it of trying to conceal failures in the education system. He also attacked the government's handling of the incident, demanding a transparent inquiry.
The confrontation has become a fresh flashpoint in the state's political landscape. Both the ruling party and the opposition have accused each other of exploiting the issue for political mileage. The CJP maintains that it was acting in the interest of children, while government officials have framed the visit as an act of disruption. The police have not yet registered a case, and no official statement from the district administration has been released.
The condition of government schools in rural Rajasthan has been a persistent concern, with multiple reports highlighting inadequate infrastructure. However, the latest incident has moved the debate from education quality to political confrontation, with both sides digging in their heels. The CJP has promised to continue its campaign, raising the possibility of further friction.
