Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke returned to India on Saturday and led a major protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged lapses in examinations and recruitment tests. The demonstration, held under heavy security, drew hundreds—predominantly young people, students and parents—many wearing cockroach masks and carrying flowers.
Addressing the crowd, Dipke accused authorities of ignoring public grievances and attempting to silence dissent online. “It has been a month since we started demanding Pradhan’s resignation on social media… You may be able to delete our posts, but you cannot erase us from this space,” he said, according to PTI.
Protesters voiced a range of education-related concerns, including the NEET paper leak, alleged irregularities in the CBSE’s on-screen marking system, and the broader mental-health impact on students. Several speakers urged greater accountability and reforms to restore trust in national examinations.
Parents and students described the emotional toll. Gayathri Singh, whose cousin had prepared for NEET in Kota for over three years, said the leak destroyed his motivation to reappear. Radheshyam Kaithal, a father of three, criticized rapid digitalisation in education without adequate teacher training, citing increased vulnerabilities to malpractice. Sugandha, a psychologist at the protest, highlighted student distress and suicides linked to exam pressure, calling for stronger oversight and mental-health support.
The protest also raised regional concerns. Winson, who left Manipur amid unrest, said prolonged instability had disrupted schooling and student welfare in the state. Young attendees said the movement had successfully translated online outrage into street-level mobilisation. “I was on my way to the office, but I decided to come and check,” said 18-year-old Ronak Kumar, reflecting the spontaneous participation of many first-time demonstrators.
Slogans at the site repeatedly called for Pradhan’s resignation—“Dharmendra Pradhan must resign” and “Dharmendra Pradhan, resign!”—alongside chants such as “Jai Bhim.” Organisers said the turnout signalled growing public impatience over perceived lapses in examination administration and the need for systemic reforms.
Delhi police maintained a strong security presence and monitored the protest to prevent disruptions. The CJP has indicated further demonstrations may follow if authorities do not address their demands; the ministry has not yet issued an official response to the protest or to calls for the minister’s resignation.
