The ongoing protest over the NEET-UG examination controversy took a dramatic turn on Friday as demonstrators at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar marked Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s birthday with an unusual message. Instead of greetings, student activists publicly called for his resignation, intensifying their demand for accountability over alleged irregularities in competitive examinations.
The protest, led by the youth-driven Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), has now entered its seventh consecutive day, drawing attention from students, activists and public figures across the country.
Birthday Message Turns Into Political Protest
During the demonstration, CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke was seen writing “Happy Birthday, Pradhan. Please resign” on a whiteboard while fellow protesters sang the birthday song in the background.
Addressing the media, Dipke sarcastically remarked that the group was ready to gift the minister a resignation letter, saying he would only need to put his thumb impression on it. The symbolic gesture quickly gained attention on social media, becoming one of the most talked-about moments from the ongoing protest.
Why Students Are Demanding Accountability
The protest stems from the controversy surrounding the alleged NEET-UG paper leak and examination irregularities, which student groups claim have affected the future of millions of aspirants across the country.
The CJP has accused the government of failing to ensure transparency and fairness in one of India’s most important entrance examinations. Protesters argue that students deserve accountability and meaningful reforms to restore confidence in the examination system.
Fresh Allegations Against the Government
Apart from the examination issue, the protesters have also raised concerns over restrictions placed on their online presence.
Abhijeet Dipke recently appeared before a Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) committee after the CJP’s official account on X was withheld. According to Dipke, officials declined to provide the blocking order, citing confidentiality.
Criticising the government’s response, Dipke questioned why confidentiality could not prevent the alleged NEET paper leak if it could be used to withhold official documents. He also objected to reports that the protesting students had been described as a “B-team of terrorists,” insisting that the movement is focused solely on seeking justice for students.
Sonam Wangchuk Raises the Stakes
The agitation could intensify further in the coming days. Environmentalist and education reform advocate Sonam Wangchuk has extended his support to the student movement and announced that he will begin an indefinite hunger strike if the Centre fails to respond to the protesters’ demands by June 27.
According to Wangchuk, the hunger strike would begin at Jantar Mantar on June 28 if no satisfactory action is taken regarding the NEET controversy.
As the protests continue to gather momentum, pressure is mounting on the government to respond to the concerns raised by students. With symbolic demonstrations, growing public support and the possibility of a hunger strike, the agitation appears to be entering a more decisive phase.
