New Delhi: At the Cockroach Janata Party press conference on Wednesday evening, members announced a 6 June protest to demand the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over a slew of controversies in competitive exams, from paper leaks to result errors.
The CJP cited irregularities in exams such as NEET, SSC, and CBSE, and said lakhs of students had been affected. It demanded accountability from the government and Pradhan.
“Our main demand is that there should be some accountability in the system. A total of 8 lakh people have signed a petition asking for Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation. There is not a single answer from their side. Two officers have been transferred; this is not a punishment, as they weren’t even suspended. We are seeking accountability from the system. You have seen the support we are getting all over the country,” said Sourav Das, a CJP member and journalist, at the press conference.
The CJP said members will march from Delhi airport—along with founder Abhijeet Dipke— to Parliament Street police station on 6 June to seek permission for a protest at Jantar Mantar. It also invited people across party lines to join. The announcement came a day after Ladakh-based activist Sonam Wangchuk, who recently called himself an “honorary cockroach”, pledged support to the protest.
The outfit also announced three spokespersons at the press conference: investigative journalist Sourav Das, author and filmmaker Vijeta Dahiya, and former McKinsey consultant and AAP spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka.
The Cockroach Janata Party started as a satirical social media campaign after remarks by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant likening some unemployed youth to “cockroaches” and “parasites” triggered outrage online. It has since grown into an anti-establishment youth-led movement with over 22 million followers on Instagram, although it is not a registered political party.
The 6 June event will be its first organised protest.
“Abhijeet will come [from the US] and we will ask for permission. We are here asking the Delhi police to give us permission to post a tweet about it. They should show their big heart in this matter,” said Ranka.
Also Read: Cockroach Janata Party announced its first street protest over irregularities in NEET, CBSE, and other exams. Founder Abhijeet Dipke is expected to fly in for the 6 June protest.
‘Party of youth’
In a video message this week, CJP founder Dipke, who lives in Boston, announced that he would come to Delhi for the protest.
“You all meet me at the airport. Together, we will go to the Parliament Street Police Station and ask for permission to hold a peaceful protest,” he said in the video. He added that he might be arrested at the airport.
When asked at the conference whether the protest could create a law-and-order situation, Ranka said they were calling for a “peaceful” demonstration.
“Everything will happen as per the law and Constitution. We appeal to everyone to follow the law,” said Ranka.
Dahiya added that the movement would continue even if Dipke was detained on arrival.
“This party is not just Abhijeet’s party,” he sad. “This is the party of youth. If climate activists like Sonam Wangchuk can get arrested, Abhijeet can be arrested too, but someone has to come forward.”