. NEW DELHI: What began as a satirical online response to remarks attributed to the chief justice of India spilled onto the streets of the capital on Saturday, three weeks later, with Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke leading a protest to demand the resignation of Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged irregularities in examinations.While the protest passed off peacefully, with scores in attendance, CJP said it would wait for a week for the Centre to sack Pradhan or seek his resignation. “If no action is taken, this movement will spread across the country,” a CJP statement said.Posting visuals of a packed protest site on his social media handle, Dipke wrote: “They said cockroaches won’t come on ground”.Dipke landed in Delhi from Boston Saturday morning. Supporters had been told to gather outside Parliament Street Police station, but the call was modified after police granted permission for the protest at Jantar Mantar even before Dipke exited IGI.Not just Gen Z, CJP protest draws cross-gen crowd tooSupporters had started gathering outside Parliament Street police station by then, and repeated announcements were made by the police asking them to shift to Jantar Mantar. Heavy police deployment, including RAF personnel, and multiple layers of barricades were put in place around the area. Water cannons were on standby.The crowd kept swelling as the hours passed. By 11 am, the site was packed shoulder-to-shoulder. Characterised as a Gen Z movement, theprotest at Jantar Mantar, however, drew people across generations. Besides schoolchildren and college students, parents, job aspirants, working professionals and octogenarians joined scores at the agitation. The common refrain: the system has become increasingly unaccountable, and repeated examination leaks have eroded public trust in institutions. Elderly citizens, professionals and farmers’ children travelled from different states to participate.Environment activist Sonam Wangchuk was also present alongside CJP members and supporters. Wangchuk had earlier announced that he would undertake a six-week fast if Dipke was arrested.People carrying the Tricolour, copies of the Constitution and other books and placards demanding accountability gathered peacefully. Several participants wore cockroach masks, carried flowers and sported T-shirts bearing the movement’s symbol. Chants of “Vande Mataram”, “sharm karo” and “Dharmendra Pradhan istifa do” echoed through the venue as supporters awaited Dipke’s arrival. The demonstration also received backing from university campuses, with members of various student unions and student groups turning up in support.The protest ended around 3.30pm after Dipke started feeling unwell.BJP called it “negative politics” while Congress said its youth wing had done much more for the cause of students. The movement has been backed by AAP, Samajwadi Party, Trinamool Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and the Left parties, among others.Pandurang Jadhav, 50, who travelled over 1,300km from Pune to participate in the protest, said he feared for the future of his two sons, aged 17 and 21. “My children have lost faith in the system. Every few months there is some controversy — sometimes a paper leak, other times glitches in the CBSE system. I came here for their future,” said Jadhav, a financial analyst.Sajeev Kumar, 24, from Jaunpur, said he changed multiple trains and travelled for nearly 10 hours for the protest.Among the youngest participants was Abhimanyu of Class III who wore a cockroach-style face mask and came with his elder brother. “I only know that there was a paper leak and responsibility should be taken, and the education minister must resign,” he said.Several participants described the protest as extending beyond examination leaks.For 83-year-old retired driver Itwari Lal Mathur, the issue was deeply personal. “Young people are losing hope. Children are suffering because of these failures. Who will bring back the lives that are lost to such pressures?”A brief moment of chaos ensued at the protest site when some men allegedly raised slogans against CJP supporters. Police personnel intervened and detained three individuals.About the AuthorSugandha JhaSugandha Jha is a journalist with over half a decade of experience covering education, social affairs, and current news. With a sharp eye for numbers and a strong grounding in data-driven reporting, she brings clarity and insight to complex issues. Beyond the newsroom, she’s passionate about exploring regional cuisine and the stories behind what we eat. Her work blends analytical rigour with human interest, offering readers nuanced perspectives across diverse subjects.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos‘Untrue’: Sourav Ganguly Denies Asking Yusuf Pathan To Resign On Behalf Of Mamata Banerjee‘TMC Fooled Muslims, Suvendu Is Secular’: Ajmal Siddiqui Resigns From Post, Slams Abhishek BanerjeeAbhishek Banerjee’s Role Reworked As Mamata Banerjee Reshuffles TMC LeadershipTamil Nadu BJP Faces Resignation Wave as Annamalai’s New Movement Draws VolunteersSix Detained As CJP’s Jantar Mantar Protest Over NEET Leak Concludes Without Major ClashesAshwini Vaishnaw Unveils Bengal Bullet Train Plan, Targets Faster Northeast Connectivity‘Khan Sir Won’t Surrender In Patna Court, To File Anticipatory Bail Plea On 8 June’: LawyerPM Modi Chairs Economic Advisory Council Meet Amid West Asia CrisisStudents, Senior Citizens, Parents Join CJP Protest Against NEET Paper Leak Controversy | WatchBengal STF Recovers Arms Cache From TMC Leader’s Pond In Sandeshkhali, CM Suvendu Adhikari Reacts123PhotostoriesGopika Gopi to Aneesh: Here’s a look at the commoner contestants of Bigg Boss Malayalam5 silent signs your body may be missing key nutrients, according to a neurologistWhy you should ‘marry for money’, according to a top divorce lawyerPrincess Diana’s most iconic fashion moments: 5 designers behind her legendary style12 must-follow emergency rules for modern apartments and gated real estate communities5 effective money habits that protect you from going brokeHow to respond to difficult people without getting triggered: 10 practical waysFrom Kedarnath to Kamakhya: 5 iconic hill temples in India to visit at least once in lifetimeInside Sunil Grover’s stunning two-storey dream home: A massive living room, artistic interiors and moreCan Jamun help control blood sugar? 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NEW DELHI: What began as a satirical online response to remarks attributed to the chief justice of India spilled onto the streets of the capital on Saturday, three weeks later, with Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke leading a protest to demand the resignation of Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged irregularities in examinations.While the protest passed off peacefully, with scores in attendance, CJP said it would wait for a week for the Centre to sack Pradhan or seek his resignation. “If no action is taken, this movement will spread across the country,” a CJP statement said.Posting visuals of a packed protest site on his social media handle, Dipke wrote: “They said cockroaches won’t come on ground”.Dipke landed in Delhi from Boston Saturday morning. Supporters had been told to gather outside Parliament Street Police station, but the call was modified after police granted permission for the protest at Jantar Mantar even before Dipke exited IGI.
Not just Gen Z, CJP protest draws cross-gen crowd too
Supporters had started gathering outside Parliament Street police station by then, and repeated announcements were made by the police asking them to shift to Jantar Mantar. Heavy police deployment, including RAF personnel, and multiple layers of barricades were put in place around the area. Water cannons were on standby.The crowd kept swelling as the hours passed. By 11 am, the site was packed shoulder-to-shoulder. Characterised as a Gen Z movement, theprotest at Jantar Mantar, however, drew people across generations. Besides schoolchildren and college students, parents, job aspirants, working professionals and octogenarians joined scores at the agitation. The common refrain: the system has become increasingly unaccountable, and repeated examination leaks have eroded public trust in institutions. Elderly citizens, professionals and farmers’ children travelled from different states to participate.Environment activist Sonam Wangchuk was also present alongside CJP members and supporters. Wangchuk had earlier announced that he would undertake a six-week fast if Dipke was arrested.People carrying the Tricolour, copies of the Constitution and other books and placards demanding accountability gathered peacefully. Several participants wore cockroach masks, carried flowers and sported T-shirts bearing the movement’s symbol. Chants of “Vande Mataram”, “sharm karo” and “Dharmendra Pradhan istifa do” echoed through the venue as supporters awaited Dipke’s arrival. The demonstration also received backing from university campuses, with members of various student unions and student groups turning up in support.The protest ended around 3.30pm after Dipke started feeling unwell.BJP called it “negative politics” while Congress said its youth wing had done much more for the cause of students. The movement has been backed by AAP, Samajwadi Party, Trinamool Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and the Left parties, among others.Pandurang Jadhav, 50, who travelled over 1,300km from Pune to participate in the protest, said he feared for the future of his two sons, aged 17 and 21. “My children have lost faith in the system. Every few months there is some controversy — sometimes a paper leak, other times glitches in the CBSE system. I came here for their future,” said Jadhav, a financial analyst.Sajeev Kumar, 24, from Jaunpur, said he changed multiple trains and travelled for nearly 10 hours for the protest.Among the youngest participants was Abhimanyu of Class III who wore a cockroach-style face mask and came with his elder brother. “I only know that there was a paper leak and responsibility should be taken, and the education minister must resign,” he said.Several participants described the protest as extending beyond examination leaks.For 83-year-old retired driver Itwari Lal Mathur, the issue was deeply personal. “Young people are losing hope. Children are suffering because of these failures. Who will bring back the lives that are lost to such pressures?”A brief moment of chaos ensued at the protest site when some men allegedly raised slogans against CJP supporters. Police personnel intervened and detained three individuals.