On June 6, the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) plans to hold a protest at Jantar Mantar against the irregularities in the NEET and CBSE exams in New Delhi. The CJP wants Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to resign due to his reported systemic failures in the country’s exam and education system.
The announcement of the protest was made by the CJP at their first-ever press conference at the Constitution Club of India. Media reports state CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke and CJP members will be in New Delhi on June 6.
Das stated that the group plans to first stop by the Parliament Street Police Station to file a formal notice and request permission for the protest at Jantar Mantar. He stated that the CJP hopes the authorities will allow a peaceful protest since the protest is their constitutional right.
The CJP has issued an open invitation to students, young people, and all concerned citizens of India to participate in the protest, and has stated that it will be a people-centric and inclusive protest.
At the press conference, Saurav Das condemned the direction the education system is going in, and specifically condemned the NEET and CBSE exams. He stated that the recent CBSE administrative transfers he stated were ‘eyewash’ and were superficial and do not address the deeper, more systemic issues that remain.
He mentioned the demands include not just administrative adjustments, but a complete overhaul of the examination system to embed the values of clarity, equity, and responsibility. The party believes the repeated appeals by students and parents to the examination system reflect a deepening trust crisis in the national education system.
CJP leaders argued the situation has created anxiety among students, especially those preparing for competitive examinations, and demanded the government take immediate action to address the situation.
Support for the Protest
Ladakh education reform activist Sonam Wangchuk expressed support for the protest. He added he may participate in the protest if, by June 5, no action has been taken regarding the raised concerns.
Wangchuk said the protest would adhere to the strict Gandhian principle of non-violence and peace. He stated if the protestors face arrest, that should not deter the protest, and emphasized that “peaceful protest is the essence of democracy.”
His support has focused the eyes of the rest of the country, especially the students and advocates of education reform, on the upcoming protest.
What is Demanded of the Authorities and What Happens Next
CJP leaders expressed confidence that permission to protest at Jantar Mantar, the traditional location for peaceful protests in the National Capital, would be granted. They added that permission denial would indicate a further narrowing of the democratic space to dissent.
The party stated that any action, including the arrest of founder Abhijeet Dipke, would not cause the movement to lose momentum. On the contrary, it would cause even greater public support and participation in the movement.
Answering questions on political affiliations, party representatives maintained that the movement centers on student concerns exclusively. They stated that the previous party affiliations of members are neither here nor there, as they view the current agenda as part of the larger struggle for accountability and transparency in the education system.
Conclusion
As the arguments for and against the NEET and CBSE examination come to the fore, it is anticipated that the protest planned by the CJP on June 6 will engage students, activists, and political observers alike. The party has framed the protest as a peaceful, positive effort for accountability and reform in the education system and a continuing effort to push the government to act.