Abhijeet Dipke Says Sonam Wangchuk Will Join Pune Protest; Sets June 20 Deadline For Nationwide Agitation

Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke on Wednesday announced that social activist Sonam Wangchuk will join a protest at Savitribai Phule Pune University on June 11 at 4 pm. Dipke urged students and youth to participate in large numbers and intensify the demand for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged examination irregularities.

The protest, scheduled to be held at the Pune University campus, is expected to draw significant participation from students and youth groups. Organisers have described it as a crucial moment in their campaign against alleged paper leaks and concerns surrounding the country's education system.

Addressing supporters, Dipke said the youth of the country would not back down and warned of a nationwide agitation if Pradhan does not resign.

I invite all Pune students, parents, youth, civil society organizations, and all those who love India to join our protest tomorrow to demand Edu Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation together.

11th June at 4 pm
Babasaheb Ambedkar Statue, Savitribai Phule Pune University pic.twitter.com/IvV81MWSm3

— Abhijeet Dipke (@abhijeet_dipke) June 10, 2026

He set June 20 as a deadline, saying that young people from across India would gather in Delhi if the Union Education Minister continues in office.

"Young people of this country will not back down. If Dharmendra Pradhan does not resign, youth from across the nation will gather in Delhi on June 20," Dipke said.

The announcement comes days after the Cockroach Janta Party organised a protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on June 6. Hundreds of students, young professionals and supporters participated in the demonstration, demanding Pradhan's resignation over alleged irregularities in examinations including NEET, CUET and CBSE.

Dipke reiterated the party's demand and took a swipe at the government, saying that if Prime Minister Narendra Modi could help stop a conflict as significant as the Russia-Ukraine war, securing the resignation of the Education Minister should not be difficult.

The Cockroach Janta Party has emerged as one of the most talked-about youth-led movements in recent weeks. What started as a social media trend quickly evolved into a nationwide online campaign highlighting concerns over unemployment, examination controversies and the future of young Indians.

The movement traces its origins to a statement attributed to the Chief Justice of India that was interpreted by many as comparing unemployed youth to cockroaches. In response, a group of young people adopted the cockroach as a symbol of protest, leading to the formation of the Cockroach Janta Party.

What began as a meme on May 16 rapidly transformed into a large online movement. Within a week, the CJP's Instagram account reportedly crossed 22 million followers, surpassing the follower count of several established political organisations.

However, Dipke has maintained that the CJP was never intended to function as a conventional political party.

The 30-year-old founder spent nearly three years in the communication wing of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) before leaving in 2023 to pursue a master's degree in the United States. He has repeatedly described the movement as a platform to amplify the frustrations of young Indians facing unemployment and concerns over the education system.

After returning to India on June 6, Dipke immediately led the protest at Jantar Mantar and intensified the campaign against alleged examination irregularities. The party has given the government a week to respond to its demands.

The movement has also attracted attention from authorities. Reports have claimed that the Intelligence Bureau flagged the CJP as a potential national security concern, while the party's X account was blocked. Dipke has challenged the action in court.

Despite its massive social media presence, questions remain about whether the movement can translate online popularity into sustained mobilisation on the ground.

The Pune University protest, now set to feature Sonam Wangchuk, is expected to be a major test of the movement's ability to convert digital support into real-world action.

With the June 20 deadline approaching and calls for a nationwide gathering in Delhi growing louder, the coming days could prove crucial for the Cockroach Janta Party and its campaign seeking accountability over alleged examination-related controversies.