Youth Rally at Jantar Mantar: What Are the Demands of the Cockroach Janta Party?
Protest Against Education Minister's Alleged Misconduct
New Delhi: Abhijeet Dipke, the founder of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), has voiced strong criticism against the government for prioritizing the group's social media presence over their pressing demands. These demands notably include the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who is accused of misconduct in examination and recruitment processes.
On Saturday, Dipke led a demonstration at Jantar Mantar in Delhi, which was heavily monitored by security forces and attended by numerous young supporters.
Dipke expressed his frustration, stating, "It has been a month since we began our online campaign for Pradhan's resignation. Instead of addressing our concerns, they are focused on distractions like hacking our accounts and deleting our posts. You can erase our posts, but you cannot erase our presence here!" His passionate speech resonated with the crowd, who responded with enthusiasm.
He also announced that activist Sonam Wangchuk would soon join the protest, thanking him for his backing.
Reflecting on his arrival at Indira Gandhi International Airport earlier that day, Dipke shared, "As my flight was landing, I felt as if I was experiencing my final moments of freedom. I was ready to sacrifice my freedom for this cause."
He emphasized that many individuals have compromised their integrity out of fear of imprisonment, declaring, "But the youth and students of this nation have not sold out!" This statement was met with loud cheers from the audience.
The demonstration saw hundreds of participants, predominantly young people, many donning cockroach masks and carrying flowers. School students were also present, accompanied by their parents.
The crowd consisted mainly of school and college students, along with young professionals, all chanting slogans demanding the resignation of Education Minister Pradhan.
Dipke, who arrived in Delhi earlier that day, urged his supporters to remain disciplined and ensure the protest remained peaceful.
Activist Sonam Wangchuk, who has shown support for the movement, announced he would undertake a six-week hunger strike if Dipke were to be arrested.
In a post on X, Dipke expressed his eagerness to meet supporters at Jantar Mantar, encouraging them to bring books and the national flag. He also suggested that participants offer flowers to police officers as a sign of compassion and gratitude, stressing that the movement should be rooted in love and peace.
The CJP, a youth-driven online initiative, has organized this protest to demand accountability for alleged irregularities in various examinations, including NEET, CBSE, CUET, and SSC.
In anticipation of the protest, security measures were intensified across the capital. Police officials reported that additional personnel were stationed at Indira Gandhi International Airport, border checkpoints, and other sensitive areas.
Over 1,000 police officers were deployed throughout New Delhi and other key locations as a precautionary measure.
Prior to the protest, the CJP circulated guidelines urging participants to uphold non-violent behavior and avoid confrontations. Dipke reiterated these instructions, emphasizing the importance of respectful interactions with law enforcement during the demonstration.