CJP Founder Abhijeet Dipke to Join Lucknow Protest at Eco Garden Over NEET Leak Allegations

Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke arrived at Lucknow Airport on Friday to participate in a peaceful protest at Eco Garden against Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the alleged NEET paper leak. The protest is scheduled to begin at 11 am.

Speaking to media, Abhijeet said that if the local police administration denies permission to the youth, he will personally visit the police station and request approval for the protest.

"After two successful peaceful protests in Delhi and Pune, I am leaving for Lucknow. Will join the students there tomorrow to demand the resignation of the Education Minister," Dipke had said in earlier post on X.

Lucknow Cockroach Janta Party protest site turned into fortress. Permission still awaited. #Protest #cjp #Lucknow pic.twitter.com/56H0Co1ed0

— Madhuri Adnal (@madhuriadnal) June 12, 2026

Earlier in Pune, Abhijeet launched a nationwide agitation seeking Pradhan's resignation and released an 'exam manifesto' demanding compensation for students in the event of a paper leak. Hundreds of students and young supporters gathered at the Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) campus in Pune during Thursday's protest.

CJP made 5 demands yesterday during its protest in Pune:

1. Rs 10,000 paper leak hardship compensation
2. Mandatory Backup Exam Day within 72 hours
3. Paper checking for paper exams
4. Automatic age limit extension for delayed exams or results
5. Mandatory tech and tender audit pic.twitter.com/YnCbmcXo46

— Cockroach is Back (@Cockroachisback) June 12, 2026

Abhijeet warned that they would travel to Delhi and stage a protest on June 20 if Pradhan did not resign over alleged irregularities in competitive examinations.

Speaking in Pune, Abhijeet said students appearing for NEET, CBSE and CUET have suffered injustice and accused the government of failing to ensure accountability.

CJP has raised five demands during its protest in Pune. These include ₹10,000 as paper leak hardship compensation, a mandatory backup exam within 72 hours, and paper checking for examinations. The group also demanded an automatic extension of the age limit in cases of delayed exams or results, along with a mandatory technical and tender audit of the examination process.

On June 6, a similar protest was planned in New Delhi where hundreds of students, young professionals and supporters gathered at Jantar Mantar to protest. The demonstration called for the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, citing alleged irregularities in NEET, CUET and CBSE examinations.

In recent weeks, the Cockroach Janta Party has grown into a widely discussed online youth movement, shifting from a social media trend into a campaign centred on unemployment and exam-related grievances.

The origins of the group are linked to remarks attributed to the Chief Justice of India, which were interpreted by some as a comparison of unemployed youth to cockroaches. The term was later reclaimed by supporters and turned into a symbol of protest.

The movement, which began as a meme on May 16, gained rapid traction online, with its Instagram account reportedly crossing 22 million followers within a week.

Abhijeet, who leads the initiative, has stated that it was never meant to operate as a formal political party.

Before launching the campaign, the 30-year-old worked in the communication wing of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for nearly three years, leaving in 2023 to pursue a master's degree in the United States. He has described the initiative as a platform to raise concerns about unemployment and the education system.

On his return to India on June 6, Abhijeet intensified the campaign and issued a one-week deadline for the government to respond to the group's demands.

The group has since drawn scrutiny from authorities, with reports alleging that the Intelligence Bureau flagged it as a potential national security concern. Its X account was also blocked, a move that Abhijeet Dipke has challenged in court.

As the June 20 deadline nears, attention is now on the group's next move and the government's response.