Cockroach Janta Party Protests at Jantar Mantar, Seeks Education Minister’s Resignation

Hundreds of students, job aspirants and young professionals gathered at Jantar Mantar in the national capital on Saturday to participate in a protest organised by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), a youth-driven movement that has recently gained widespread attention on social media. The demonstrators demanded accountability over alleged irregularities in examinations and recruitment processes and called for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

The protest was led by CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke, who returned to India from the United States to spearhead the campaign. Participants arrived carrying books, flowers and the national flag, while several wore cockroach-themed masks, a symbol adopted by the movement to represent resilience in the face of adversity. Protesters raised slogans and displayed placards highlighting concerns over examination paper leaks, recruitment delays and alleged lapses in the conduct of competitive tests.

Organisers claimed that recurring controversies involving entrance examinations and government recruitment processes have eroded the confidence of millions of students and job seekers across the country. They argued that repeated disruptions and allegations of malpractice have jeopardised the future of deserving candidates and demanded comprehensive reforms to ensure transparency and fairness.

The gathering was held after Delhi Police granted permission for the event under specified conditions. Security arrangements were tightened around the protest site to maintain law and order. Despite the large turnout, the demonstration remained peaceful throughout the day.

The movement has attracted support from various public figures, activists and opposition leaders. Social activist Sonam Wangchuk also expressed solidarity with the protesters and backed their demand for greater accountability in the education sector.

Addressing the crowd, organisers described the demonstration as the beginning of a broader nationwide campaign aimed at protecting the interests of students and job aspirants. They warned that if their demands are not addressed, similar protests could be organised in other parts of the country in the coming months.