New Delhi: Hundreds of students and young people from across India gathered at Jantar Mantar in Delhi on Saturday for a protest organised by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), a youth-led online movement seeking accountability over alleged irregularities in examinations and recruitment tests, including NEET and CBSE.
Held under heavy security, the demonstration marked the CJP’s first major on-ground mobilisation after gaining traction on social media in recent weeks. Protesters demanded reforms in the education system and the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over allegations of examination mismanagement and paper leak controversies.
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke, who recently returned from the United States to participate in the mobilisation, confirmed that Delhi Police had granted permission for the protest at Jantar Mantar.
In a statement, the organisation said supporters had been asked to head directly to the protest venue instead of assembling near Parliament Street Police Station, after police officials met Dipke upon his arrival in Delhi.
Describing the campaign as a peaceful constitutional movement, Dipke repeatedly urged participants to remain non-violent and follow democratic means of protest.
“How long will we wait for someone else to come, raise their voice and save us?” Dipke said in a video appeal ahead of the gathering, urging supporters to unite for what he described as the future of Indian students.
Speaking at the protest site, Dipke highlighted the turnout and said the mobilisation had disproved criticism that the movement would remain confined to social media. “They said cockroaches would never come on the ground,” he remarked while addressing supporters.
The protest drew participants from several states, many of whom said they travelled at their own expense to join the demonstration. Several students cited frustration over alleged examination irregularities, particularly surrounding NEET and CBSE assessments, saying they wanted greater transparency and accountability in the system.
The movement, which began as a satirical online platform, has increasingly positioned itself as a youth-driven political and civic campaign. Its supporters say it has become a voice for students frustrated with recurring controversies around examinations and recruitment processes.
Social activist Sonam Wangchuk extended support to the protest and joined the mobilisation. Earlier, Wangchuk had stated that he would undertake a six-week fast if Dipke were arrested. Both leaders repeatedly stressed that the protest should remain peaceful and constitutional.
The demonstration also drew support from political figures across ideological lines. CPI(ML) Liberation general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya joined the protest at Jantar Mantar, while NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar backed the agitation, saying the participation reflected growing resentment among young people over alleged examination-related irregularities and government policies affecting students.
Meanwhile, Delhi Police detained six individuals during the protest as a preventive measure after receiving inputs about possible tensions between supporters and opponents of the movement.
Officials said the detentions were carried out to avoid any confrontation and ensure law and order near the protest venue. According to police, those taken into custody were allegedly attempting to create disturbances near the demonstration site.
Authorities said the protest concluded peacefully without any major untoward incident.
