Cockroach Janata Party Press Conference: CJP To Protest Over NEET And CBSE Irregularities

The Cockroach Janata Party said on 3 June 2026 that it was planning a protest in Delhi within the week, demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET and CBSE fiasco, while also stating that it was open to talks with both the government and the Opposition.

At the party's first formal media briefing at the Constitution Club of India, CJP spokesperson Saurav Das, who is an independent journalist, said the campaign sought accountability for alleged irregularities in national examinations and insisted that recent government steps did not address core concerns around responsibility within the education system.

Cockroach Janata Party CJP protest and dialogue over NEET and CBSE fiasco

Das said the CJP was inviting young people across India to join the planned demonstration, without party flags. "We have given an open call. Anybody can join us without a party banner. We are ready to have a dialogue with everybody, be it those in power or the Opposition," Das said, citing CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke's call for a protest on 6 June.

According to Das, the Union government's decision on 2 June to transfer Central Board of Secondary Education chairperson Rahul Singh and secretary Himanshu Gupta did not resolve the crisis. Das described the move as an "eyewash" and argued that actions against senior officials still left larger concerns about examination conduct unaddressed.

First press conference of Cockroach Janta Party.@SauravDassss @Cockroachisback @abhijeet_dipke @AshutoshRanka @VijetaDahiya pic.twitter.com/GyyXgT8Iyy

— Ratna Singh (@whattalawyer) June 3, 2026

Das added that CJP's demands remained focused on responsibility at the highest level of decision-making within the Education Ministry. "We are demanding accountability in the system. We have been demanding the resignation of the education minister, but no action has been taken against him till date. The transfers are being projected as action. It's not. There's a rot in the system," Das said.

Cockroach Janata Party CJP protest, youth anger and political links debate

CJP spokesperson Vijeta Dahiya, introduced by the party as a political researcher, author and filmmaker, said the agitation reflected a wider mood among younger voters. "The way this movement has captured the imagination shows that an entire generation is dissatisfied with the state of affairs," Dahiya said, pointing to what CJP described as rising distrust in existing political choices.

Questions about the CJP's relationship with the Aam Aadmi Party were addressed by party functionary Ashutosh Ranka, who is also a spokesperson. Ranka said, "Our past affiliations are not important. This fight is bigger than that. CJP is bigger than an individual or any organisation." Ranka earlier studied at IIT Kanpur and the London School of Economics and worked at McKinsey & Company in London.

Cockroach Janata Party CJP protest logistics, Jantar Mantar plan and key figures

The CJP said that Dipke, who is pursuing higher education in the U.S., would arrive in Delhi at 8 a.m. on 6 June. After landing, Dipke planned to go to Parliament Street Police Station to seek permission for the proposed gathering at Jantar Mantar, which has long hosted authorised protests.

Ranka said organisers remained hopeful of official clearance for the venue. "Jantar Mantar has historically been a site for peaceful dissent. We are confident that police will give us permission," Ranka noted. The party also said that climate activist Sonam Wangchuk had agreed to join Dipke at the demonstration, if permission was granted.

Discussing the risk of police action against Dipke on arrival, Dahiya pointed to earlier arrests of activists. "If Sonam Wangchuk could be arrested, Dipke could be arrested as well. If he's arrested, more people will rally behind us," Dahiya said, arguing that any such move could increase attention on the protest and its demands.

Cockroach Janata Party CJP protest, legal notice and response to possible resignation

The press conference also took place against the backdrop of a legal development involving Das. On 22 May, the Delhi High Court issued a notice to Das and AAP leader Gopal Rai, on a petition seeking contempt proceedings over an alleged "orchestrated social media campaign" against Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma, who had recently withdrawn from hearing the Delhi excise case.

When asked how the agitation might respond if Dharmendra Pradhan left office before the protest, Ranka said the group would reassess its plans based on the political situation. "This is a fast-evolving situation. If Pradhan resigns in the next two days, we will update you about our position," Ranka said, while stressing that demands around examination accountability would remain central.