Atul Krishan | New Delhi
The youth-led satirical organisation Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) concluded its street protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi peacefully on Saturday after a day-long demonstration demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged irregularities in examinations including NEET, CUET, CBSE, and SSC GD.
Meanwhile, six individuals were detained after police received inputs about a possible confrontation between opposing groups. Officials said the detentions were precautionary and helped maintain law and order.
The protest marked the first time the CJP took its online youth movement from social media to the streets for the first time in a show of dissent against the BJP-led NDA government.
The protest, led by CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke, drew hundreds of supporters, including students and young
professionals. Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk joined the gathering in solidarity and announced that he would return to Jantar Mantar next weekend to continue supporting the movement.
Delhi Police maintained tight security during the event by deploying over 1,000 personnel across key locations.
Dipke said the movement sought accountability in examination systems and defended the role of public protests in raising concerns affecting students and youth. He also spoke about what he described as a growing climate of fear among those critical of the government.
Separately, a complaint was submitted to Parliament Street Police Station by a Haridwar-based religious trust seeking an FIR and investigation into CJP's activities and funding. The complaint called for scrutiny of the organisation's finances, crowdfunding efforts, social media content, and domestic and international contacts. It also requested consideration of a wider probe, potentially by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) or central agency.
There is currently no official confirmation that an FIR has been registered. The allegations remain unverified, and no findings have been made by any investigating agency. CJP has not publicly responded to the complaint. Party leaders confirmed they would return to Jantar Mantar next Saturday to continue their campaign.
Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, who joined the demonstration in solidarity, addressed supporters and reiterated his backing for the movement. While the protest was incident-free, Wangchuk announced that he would return to Jantar Mantar next weekend to show his support for the cause.
Security was tight throughout the protest, with over 1,000 police personnel deployed across key locations, including the airport and the protest site. Authorities also maintained surveillance around key individuals involved in the demonstration.
Speakers at the event emphasised peaceful and constitutional methods of protest, with organisers repeatedly urging participants to maintain discipline. Dipke, in his address, said the movement was aimed at ensuring accountability in examination systems and accused critics of attempting to suppress online dissent.
Later, the organisers indicated that further demonstrations may be planned in the coming days depending on the government's response to their demands.
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