A major protest led by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar on Saturday drew thousands of students and young supporters demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the alleged NEET paper leak and irregularities in the CBSE examination system.
The demonstration was spearheaded by CJP founder Abhijeet Deepke, who arrived in Delhi from Boston, United States, to participate in the protest. After landing at Indira Gandhi International Airport, Deepke proceeded to Jantar Mantar, where he was greeted by supporters raising slogans such as “Bharat Mata Ki Jai,” “Inquilab Zindabad,” and “Jai Bhim.”
The protest witnessed the participation of students and youth from across the country. Several demonstrators appeared in cockroach-themed costumes, symbolizing the movement’s identity and drawing public attention to the event.
Protesters carried placards criticizing the government’s handling of examination-related controversies and demanding accountability for alleged lapses in the conduct of national-level entrance examinations. Calls for the resignation of the Education Minister featured prominently throughout the demonstration.
Addressing the gathering, Deepke accused the government of failing to effectively address recurring examination irregularities and asserted that the country’s youth would continue their struggle for transparency and accountability in the education system. He stated that the movement would continue until its demands were met and maintained that the campaign would not be withdrawn until action was taken.
In view of the scheduled protest, Delhi Police deployed extensive security arrangements at Jantar Mantar to prevent any law-and-order issues. Security personnel were also stationed near Deepke’s residence in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Maharashtra, as a precautionary measure.
The agitation has also received support from social activist Sonam Wangchuk, who earlier expressed solidarity with the movement. Wangchuk reportedly said he would undertake a 42-day hunger strike if authorities arrested Deepke or other members of the organization during the course of the protest.
The demonstration has generated significant attention on social media and among student communities, reflecting growing concerns over examination integrity and governance in the education sector. The protest is expected to further intensify the debate surrounding accountability and reforms in India’s examination system.