CJP's Saurav Das rejects suggestion on inspecting schools ‘respectfully’: ‘Slow, boring, unconnected from reality'

Overview

Saurav Das, chief spokesperson of the youth-led Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), has rejected a proposal by Aarin Capital Chairman Mohandas Pai for volunteers to conduct school inspections, calling the approach “slow, boring, unconnected to reality.” The exchange came amid the CJP's ‘School Thik Karo’ campaign, which focuses on the condition of government schools in India.

The Disagreement

Pai had suggested that CJP volunteers form groups of two across states, visit allocated schools after obtaining permission, and prepare reports on the ground situation at the taluk level. He recommended submitting findings to state governments, publishing quarterly reports, and engaging with citizens. Pai argued that reliable data would strengthen demands for change and help identify states that are lagging behind.

“Ask all your volunteers to form groups of 2 all across states. Ask them to visit schools which are allocated to them, inspect after getting permission respectfully. Prepare a report on the status on the ground by Taluk and give it to the state government. Then demand change armed with full data. Publish a quarterly report and talk to citizens,” Pai wrote.

He further said: “You will know which state is behind. Understand the scale of the issue. India’s school system has around 18 lakh schools, 24 cr children upto class 12, 1.3 cr faculty and staff, 50% children in govt schools and declining. This is public service. If you are true and want change do this. Not leading a mob to a school, abusing people, threatening teachers and acting high and mighty. Anarchy does not work. Understood.”

Das responded on Sunday that similar exercises are already being carried out by NITI Aayog and independent non-governmental organisations. “Yet you see what you see. Groups of two in unruly states, take permission and what not? Respectfully sir, your suggestion is slow, boring, unconnected to reality. Much like the present system!” Das wrote.

Earlier, Das had reacted sharply to Pai's criticism of the CJP's tactics, saying, “Sir, please come along with us next time and show us how to do it best. You lead, we follow. Deal?”

The Jaipur Incident

The exchange began after CJP co-convenor Ashutosh Ranka highlighted an alleged attack on volunteers in Jaipur. According to reports, CJP volunteers, led by Ranka, were allegedly assaulted by a group of people on Friday while they were on their way to inspect a government school in Jaipur’s Bagru assembly constituency. One volunteer suffered a fractured arm in the attack, according to Ranka.

The CJP team had planned to visit two government schools in Jaipur: one at Rampura Kanwarpura and one at Bhatta Wala on Vatika Road. Ranka posted about the condition of the primary school at Rampura Kanwarpura, describing an unsafe building, students shifted to a shed, and animal fodder inside the shed.

Pai called Ranka's allegations “rubbish” and said the CJP volunteers should not have gone as a “mob” to the school, emphasizing that the safety and security of students is paramount.

Ranka also claimed that a man named Salman, a B.Tech graduate in Computer Science, was attacked after visiting a school run in a cow shelter. He was quoted as saying, “BJP wants our children to become anpadh gundas.”

Perspectives

Mohandas Pai

Pai argues that the CJP should adopt a structured, data-driven approach: volunteers should inspect schools in pairs with permission, file reports, and engage with citizens. He criticizes the CJP's methods as leading a mob, asserting that anarchy does not work and that student safety must come first.

Saurav Das and CJP

Das maintains that the proposed approach is impractical and already being done by institutions like NITI Aayog and NGOs, with little visible change. He dismisses Pai's suggestion as “slow, boring, unconnected to reality” and invites Pai to join the campaign directly.

Ashutosh Ranka (CJP co-convener)

Ranka alleges that CJP volunteers were attacked during a school inspection in Jaipur, with one sustaining a fractured arm. He highlights the poor condition of schools, including a primary school with an unsafe building and students shifted to a shed, and accuses the BJP of wanting children to become uneducated.