What’s Fueling the Ongoing Protest at Jantar Mantar? Insights from Abhijeet Dipke

Protest Against NEET Paper Leak Continues

New Delhi: Abhijeet Dipke, the founder of the Cockroach Janta Party, along with his supporters, has maintained a sit-in protest at Jantar Mantar, demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan due to the NEET paper leak issue. The protest, which has now entered its second day, sees Dipke urging more individuals to join the demonstration, especially those who are set to take the NEET re-exam.

Dipke emphasized the importance of public support for the movement's success, stating, “We are holding the fort, but without your support, this movement won’t be successful.”

Despite the Delhi Police's request for protesters to leave the site after their permission expired at 5 PM on Saturday, the demonstration continued. Dipke has requested the police to provide an alternative location for the protest but stated they would remain at Jantar Mantar until then.

In a series of posts on social media, he urged law enforcement not to hinder the arrival of supporters, asserting that the protesters were merely seeking justice for students who tragically took their own lives.

Additionally, he called on authorities to restore water supply to public restrooms at the protest site, claiming that there had been no water since Saturday night. Earlier, protesters had reported that lights were turned off and access to essential facilities was limited.

Later, they confirmed that drinking water was made available again and the lights were turned back on.

The Delhi Police had instructed Dipke and the protesters to vacate the area, citing that the demonstration was only permitted from 10 AM to 5 PM. They warned that staying beyond these hours could lead to legal repercussions.

As night fell, Dipke and his supporters transformed the protest into an overnight sit-in, continuing to chant slogans demanding Pradhan's resignation. The atmosphere remained vibrant, with a steady flow of supporters throughout the night, as Dipke addressed the crowd and encouraged more people to join.

Many protesters carried placards and chanted slogans, creating a charged environment at Jantar Mantar.

Dipke reiterated that the protest would remain peaceful and expressed a willingness to engage in dialogue with the government, provided accountability was established and the education minister resigned.

The protest commenced on Saturday afternoon amid heavy police presence, including CCTV surveillance and security personnel equipped with body cameras.

Hundreds of supporters, primarily young individuals, gathered at Jantar Mantar after Dipke's call to bring 'thali and chammach' (plates and spoons), banging them together while chanting for Pradhan's resignation.

Dipke has also demanded a compensation of Rs 1 crore for the families of students who died by suicide following the paper leak and the cancellation of the entrance examination.

He stated, “If there are arrests, I will be the first to court arrest.”

Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, who joined the protest, announced plans for a hunger strike on June 27 if Pradhan did not resign.

This marks the second protest organized by the Cockroach Janta Party at Jantar Mantar, addressing ongoing issues of repeated paper leaks and calls for government accountability.