11 June,2026 10:54 PM IST | Pune | Archana Dahiwal
Abhijeet Dipke announced that an indefinite agitation would begin in New Delhi from June 20. Pic/Special Arrangement
The Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) on Thursday staged a protest at the statue of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar inside the campus of Savitribai Phule Pune University, alleging widespread corruption in the education system and demanding accountability in the NEET examination paper leak controversy.
The demonstration saw participation from students, parents, and aspirants preparing for competitive examinations. Police deployed a heavy presence in the area to maintain law and order.
The protest was led by CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke, who demanded the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged irregularities in the NEET examination process.
Addressing the gathering, Dipke criticised the Central government, accusing it of ignoring key issues such as education, employment, and youth welfare.
He alleged that political discourse was being diverted towards religious polarisation instead of addressing systemic failures in governance.
Abhijeet Dipke announced that an indefinite agitation would begin in New Delhi from June 20, demanding accountability in the education system and the resignation of the Education Minister.
He said Pune was chosen as the starting point for the movement due to its historical importance as an educational hub and its legacy of social reform.
He further claimed that India's youth were suffering due to unemployment, weak infrastructure, and lack of reforms in education.
Referring to the NEET controversy, Dipke demanded moral responsibility from the Education Minister and called for compensation of at least Rs 10,000 for affected students.
He alleged that despite widespread impact on aspirants, the government had failed to take accountability.
He also claimed that individuals raising concerns were being targeted with false legal cases, although no official confirmation was provided regarding these allegations.
The protest was supported by social activist and education reform advocate Sonam Wangchuk, along with other activists including Vishwambhar Chaudhary, Adv. Asim Sarode, Namdev Jadhav, and Rahul Damble.
Wangchuk said education and environmental protection were key pillars of society and stressed the need for accountability in cases of examination failures.
He emphasised that reforms must strengthen public trust in the education system and ensure transparency in competitive examinations.
During the protest, police detained a young man identified as Faizan Ansari, who allegedly attempted to create a disturbance at the venue.
Officials said he claimed to be a Mumbai-based social media influencer, and further verification was underway.
Participants at the protest demanded greater transparency in examinations, stronger safeguards against paper leaks, and policy reforms focused on students' welfare and trust in the education system.
