CJP Stages Second Protest At Jantar Mantar

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) returned to Jantar Mantar on Saturday for its second major protest in the national capital, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET-UG paper leak controversy and the resulting student suicides.

Hundreds of supporters, mostly young students and activists, gathered at the protest site carrying placards and banging metal plates (thalis) and spoons to make their voices heard. The unique form of protest is inspired by the 2020 Covid-era call by PM Modi for people to bang utensils in support of frontline workers.

CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke urged students appearing for the NEET-UG re-examination on Sunday to focus on their papers but join the movement afterwards. “This is not just about one exam. It is about the future of India’s youth and the complete failure of the education system,” Dipke said.

The protests come as around 2.2 million students are set to retake the high-stakes NEET-UG exam under heavy security following the cancellation of the original May 2026 test due to widespread question paper leaks. At least 12 NEET aspirants have reportedly taken their own lives in the past month due to exam-related stress.

Protesters accused the National Testing Agency (NTA) and the Education Ministry of corruption and gross negligence. They demanded strict accountability and systemic reforms to prevent future leaks in competitive examinations.

The CJP movement, which began as a youth-led online campaign, has quickly gained traction across multiple cities including Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune, Lucknow, and Amritsar. Activist Sonam Wangchuk and several other prominent voices are expected to extend support to the ongoing agitation.

The Education Ministry has maintained that all necessary steps have been taken to ensure the integrity of the re-examination, but opposition parties and student groups continue to demand Pradhan’s resignation.