Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk has recently made a big revelation, saying the founders of the pressure group, Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) have political ambitions, but added that there is nothing wrong with aspiring to emerge as political figures.

Wangchuk, who closely worked with CJP founders Abhijeet Dipke, Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das, during the nearly 2-month-long student protest in the national capital, said he had assessed their intentions closely during the agitation at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar.

Wangchuk spilled the beans during a podcast with Prakhar Gupta, saying he believed the CJP founders were likely to have political ambitions, even though they had not told him so explicitly.

He said, “As far as their political ambitions are concerned, I think they do have political ambitions. I have assessed them quite closely, and I believe they certainly have political ambitions.”

He further said that having political ambitions should not be viewed negatively. Adding to this, he said, “They are not saints who do not want anything out of this. I am sure there are political ambitions, and there is nothing wrong with that.”

“Young leaders should enter politics”: Wangchuk

Wangchuk said he would welcome more youngsters entering politics, either by joining established political parties or forming political organisations of their own.

Sonam Wangchuk and CJP founders, along with AAP leader Kejriwal and activist Anna Hazare in a single frame

He also recalled drawing backlash when he joined the student movement, with some people pointing out that Dipke had earlier worked with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). The 59-year-old activist said a person’s political background should not automatically undermine their involvement in a student or social movement.

“Urged CJP founders to keep student movement unpolitical”: Wangchuk

The activist added that while he believed the CJP founder might harbour political ambitions, he had repeatedly advised them not to use the student movement to advance the agenda of any political party.

The long-standing protests in Delhi sought the ouster of the then-Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, which met their objective eventually.

Wangchuk said, “Throughout the time I was on that stage, I kept telling them that any of you may have political ambitions, and it is actually a good thing to have young and emerging leaders. But maintain the sanctity of this platform. Keep it neutral, apolitical and a pressure group, because that way you will be able to achieve much more.”

Adding to the statements, Wangchuk said he had told Dipke as well as his colleagues that the movement should not be perceived as belonging to the Congress, BJP or the AAP. Instead, it should retain its identity as a student movement.

He added by saying he was pleased that the organisers maintained that neutrality throughout the protest.