Cockroach Janta Party Returns To Jantar Mantar: Protesters Demand Dharmendra Pradhan's Resignation

The Cockroach Janta Party has set to returned to Jantar Mantar on Saturday for its second major Delhi protest this month, turning student anger over exam paper leaks, recruitment irregularities and alleged unfair marking practices into a street mobilisation in the capital.

The demonstration began at 1 pm and has drawn students and young job aspirants from Delhi and neighbouring states. The Internet-born outfit has called for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and stronger accountability in examination-related controversies, including NEET and recruitment tests such as the SSC constable exam.

Earlier, founder Abhijeet Dipke has urged participants to bring “plates and spoons” to the protest, signalling a noisy show of dissent at the designated protest site. The group’s messaging has focused on students who spend years preparing for competitive exams, only to face uncertainty caused by leaks, cancellations, court cases or normalisation disputes.

Cockroach Janta Party protest focuses on exam accountability

The CJP’s latest mobilisation follows its June 6 demonstration at Jantar Mantar, where hundreds of students and young professionals gathered to demand action over alleged irregularities in entrance and recruitment examinations. Since then, the organisation has tried to expand its campaign beyond Delhi, using social media to reach aspirants in multiple cities.

In an open letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, Dipke described the situation as a crisis affecting students and their families. He demanded compensation of Rs 1 crore for families of students who, he claimed, died by suicide amid examination-related controversies. The claim could not be independently verified from the protest note alone.

“The Cockroach Janta Party has been demanding the resignation of the education minister for the past month and has been protesting across the country for our demands. All that we students want is to see some accountability for the loss of lives,” Dipke said in the letter.

The demand for Pradhan’s resignation has become one of the group’s central political points. The CJP has linked it to the wider debate on paper leaks, administrative lapses and delays that affect candidates across competitive exams. The government has not, in the material available, issued a specific response to the group’s latest letter.

Why students are angry over exam leaks and normalisation

For many aspirants, the issue goes beyond one examination. India’s entrance and recruitment system decides access to medical seats, government jobs and professional opportunities for millions. Any allegation of a leaked paper, faulty centre management, delayed result or unfair normalisation formula can create months of uncertainty for candidates and their families.

Normalisation of marks is often used when exams are held across multiple shifts with different question papers. Authorities say it helps balance differences in difficulty levels. Candidates, however, frequently challenge the process when they believe a formula has reduced their score or rank unfairly. This has made normalisation a recurring flashpoint in recruitment exams.

NEET has also remained at the centre of public scrutiny after allegations of irregularities triggered protests and legal challenges. The controversy has sharpened questions about how high-stakes exams are conducted, how quickly complaints are investigated and whether affected students receive clear information from testing agencies and ministries.

The CJP has tried to frame these concerns as a youth accountability movement rather than a conventional party campaign. Spokesperson Saurav Das earlier appealed to artists and singers to join the protest, indicating an effort to broaden the gathering beyond exam aspirants. The use of symbols such as plates and spoons also reflects its social-media-driven style of mobilisation.

Delhi Police tightens security at Jantar Mantar

Delhi Police has granted permission for the demonstration, while making extensive security arrangements around Jantar Mantar. Officials said CCTV cameras have been installed at and around the protest site for real-time monitoring. Around 270 body-worn cameras will also be used by police personnel deployed on the ground.

Police videographers have been assigned to record the protest and related developments. Multiple layers of barricades have been placed around Jantar Mantar and adjoining roads. Vehicles are being checked at key entry and exit points, while reserve forces have been kept on standby in case the gathering grows larger than expected.

Senior officers have been given field duties to supervise security arrangements. The Special Branch is also monitoring developments and social media activity linked to the protest, officials said. Security has been stepped up at major transport hubs, including the airport, railway stations, inter-state bus terminals and border points.

The Saturday protest will test whether the CJP can convert online attention into sustained ground pressure. Its immediate demands remain focused on exam accountability, compensation for affected families and Pradhan’s removal. For students gathering at Jantar Mantar, the larger concern is whether institutions can restore confidence in competitive exams that shape their futures.

With inputs from agencies