06 June,2026 01:59 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondent
CJP protest draws large youth turnout at Jantar Mantar. Pic/PTI
A large crowd, mostly consisting of students and young people, gathered at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on Saturday to participate in a protest organised by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP). The demonstration was conducted amid tight security arrangements across the national capital, reported PTI.
Many participants wore cockroach masks and carried flowers as symbols of the movement. School students attended alongside their parents, while college students and young professionals also turned out in significant numbers.
Addressing the crowd, CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke accused the government of focusing on the organisation's social media activities instead of responding to its demands.
Dipke said the movement had been demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan for over a month due to alleged irregularities in examinations and recruitment tests. According to him, authorities had been more concerned with deleting social media posts and targeting online accounts than addressing the issues being raised.
He told supporters that while online content could be removed, the movement itself could not be silenced.
During his speech, Dipke claimed that fear of imprisonment had forced many people to compromise their principles. However, he praised students and young people for continuing to speak out.
He declared that the youth and students of the country had not "sold themselves" and remained committed to demanding accountability. His remarks received loud support from the crowd gathered at the venue, reported the news agency.
Recalling his arrival at Indira Gandhi International Airport earlier in the day, Dipke said he felt as though he was experiencing his final moments of freedom before landing.
He stated that he was prepared to sacrifice his freedom for the cause if necessary and remained committed to the movement's objectives.
Dipke informed supporters that activist Sonam Wangchuk would soon join the protest and thanked him for his support.
Wangchuk also expressed solidarity with the movement and stated that he would undertake a six-week fast if Dipke were arrested. His support added momentum to the protest and attracted further attention to the campaign.
Ahead of the demonstration, Dipke repeatedly urged supporters to maintain discipline and ensure the protest remained peaceful.
In a post on X, he encouraged participants to bring a book and the national flag to the event. He also asked supporters to offer flowers to police personnel as a gesture of gratitude and compassion.
According to Dipke, the movement should be guided by love, peace, and respectful engagement with law enforcement authorities.
Authorities increased security arrangements across New Delhi ahead of the protest.
Police officials said additional personnel were deployed at Indira Gandhi International Airport, border entry points, and other sensitive locations. More than 1,000 police personnel were assigned to maintain law and order throughout the city as a precautionary measure.
The Cockroach Janta Party describes itself as a youth-led online movement seeking accountability for alleged irregularities in major examinations and recruitment processes.
Among the issues raised by the organisation are concerns related to NEET, CBSE, CUET, and SSC examinations. Protesters are demanding transparency, accountability, and corrective measures to address alleged problems in these systems.
The demonstration at Jantar Mantar highlighted growing concerns among students and young people who are seeking reforms in examination and recruitment processes across the country.
(With PTI Inputs)
