Warns nationwide agitation if demand ignored
NEW DELHI, JUN 6 (PTI): Hundreds of protesters gathered at Jantar Mantar on Saturday under the banner of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), demanding Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation over alleged irregularities in examinations and recruitment tests. Later, CJP leaders warned that a nationwide agitation would be launched if Pradhan was not removed or did not resign within seven days.
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke arrived from the United States on Saturday morning carrying a copy of BR Ambedkar’s autobiography. After obtaining permission from Delhi Police, he joined the protest, where demonstrators wearing cockroach masks and carrying posters sought Pradhan’s resignation. Protesters also raised slogans against “Hindu-Muslim” politics and chanted “Bharat Mata ki Jai”.
Dipke urged participants to raise slogans in support of the country, Mahatma Gandhi and Ambedkar while rejecting communal politics. He said his mother feared he might be arrested upon returning to India and linked that concern to what he described as a wider fear among politically active youth. “This is the fear of the parents of any youngster who speaks on politics. How long will we live in fear? Tell them, we are not scared,” he said.
Dipke was later joined by climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, CPI(ML) Liberation general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya, CPI leader Annie Raja and activists from Left student and youth organisations.
Addressing the gathering, Dipke said the campaign had spent a month seeking Pradhan’s resignation through social media and alleged that efforts had been made to suppress its online presence. “You may be able to delete our posts, but you cannot erase us from this space,” he said. According to the CJP, turnout ran into thousands and exceeded expectations. The group described the protest as an expression of public frustration and reiterated its commitment to a peaceful, democratic, “pro-youth, pro-education, pro-Constitution and pro-India” movement.
Participants included students, parents and young professionals. Wangchuk praised the peaceful nature of the demonstration and welcomed the government’s decision to allow it.
The protest ended around 3.30 pm after Dipke felt unwell. Organised over alleged irregularities in exams including NEET, CBSE, CUET and SSC, the event saw heightened security, with over 1,000 police personnel deployed. Police also detained six people to prevent a possible confrontation between two groups.