Key facts
- Hundreds of protesters, identifying as the 'Cockroach Janta Party' (CJP), are demonstrating at Delhi's Jantar Mantar.
- The CJP demands the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan following a paper leak in the NEET-UG exam.
- The movement was initiated by Abhijeet Dipke, inspired by a judge's remarks likening unemployed youth to 'cockroaches.'
- Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk has commenced an indefinite hunger strike in solidarity with the protesters.
- A memorial wall at the protest site lists students who allegedly died by suicide after the exam was cancelled.
Hundreds of protesters, identifying as the 'Cockroach Janta Party' (CJP), have been demonstrating at Delhi's Jantar Mantar for over ten days, demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The movement gained momentum following a paper leak in the NEET-UG medical entrance exam and a controversial remark by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, who likened some unemployed youth to 'cockroaches.'
The CJP, founded by postgraduate student Abhijeet Dipke, has evolved from a satirical online movement into a platform for young people voicing anxieties about job scarcity and exam integrity. Protesters are demanding Pradhan take moral responsibility for the repeated cancellation of exams and systemic failures.
Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk has joined the demonstrations, beginning an indefinite hunger strike to support the youth's call for accountability. A memorial wall at the protest site displays photographs of students who allegedly died by suicide after the NEET-UG exam was cancelled, with the toll reportedly rising to nearly 20.
Minister Pradhan has dismissed the CJP as 'disruptive elements,' while the BJP president has criticized the emergence of 'cockroach-like parties.' Despite the harsh weather conditions and police containment, the protesters, supported by students' unions and civil society, vow to continue their demonstrations until the minister steps down.