Thousands Join CJP Protest at Jantar Mantar, Demand Education Minister's Resignation

New Delhi: A massive protest erupted at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on Saturday as tens of thousands of students and young people gathered under the banner of the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) to demand the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET-UG leak and CBSE irregularities. Heavy police deployment and barricades were erected around Parliament Street as the crowd swelled, but protesters remained disciplined and peaceful throughout.

CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke flew in from Boston, arriving at Delhi airport at around 8 am. He obtained official permission for the peaceful protest from Parliament Street Police Station alongside prominent activist Sonam Wangchuk before proceeding to the protest site, where he was greeted by an enthusiastic crowd. Declaring "I submit my fate to the Constitution of this country," Dipke addressed the gathering and vowed the agitation would not end until Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned. CJP chief spokesperson Saurav Das called on students across party lines to join the fight for their rights.

People protesting at Jantar mantar

Protesters arrived wearing cockroach masks, carrying flowers in one hand and copies of the Indian Constitution in the other — offering flowers to the police officers deployed to stop them. The slogan "You asked us for Make in India; what you gave students was Leak in India" rang out as marchers moved towards Parliament Street. Sonam Wangchuk warned that if police attempted to suppress the democratic protest or arrest Dipke, he would launch a prolonged hunger strike in Ladakh.

The CJP originated as a social media movement after a remark made during a Supreme Court hearing that referred to ordinary citizens as "cockroaches" sparked public outrage. The movement gathered over 20 million Instagram followers within days and has now taken to the streets as a vehicle for youth anger against what protesters describe as the Modi government's destruction of public education. An online petition signed by lakhs of students demanding the Education Minister's resignation has also been submitted. The collective has announced plans to intensify the protest nationwide in the coming days.