Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke on Saturday led a large demonstration at Jantar Mantar, where students, young professionals and parents gathered to demand accountability over alleged irregularities in national examinations and recruitment processes.
Addressing supporters, Dipke declared, “The youth of the country will no longer fear, they will fight. Cockroaches don't even fear, they never die either.”
Protesters responded with slogans demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, citing alleged lapses in examinations including NEET-UG, CUET, CBSE and SSC GD.
Many participants arrived wearing cockroach masks and carrying flowers, books and national flags.
Organisers described the event as a peaceful youth-led movement seeking reforms and greater transparency in the education system.
The protest marked the first major ground mobilisation by the CJP, a movement that began as an online satire before evolving into a nationwide campaign with a strong Gen-Z following. Dipke, who recently returned from the United States after completing higher studies, had urged supporters to maintain discipline and avoid any confrontation during the demonstration.
Security was tightened across the national capital, with authorities deploying more than 1,000 police personnel at key locations, including border checkpoints and transport hubs. Meanwhile, police in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar increased security outside Dipke’s residence in the Waluj MIDC area.
“If there is a need to deploy more manpower, we will do so after a review,” Deputy Commissioner of Police Pankaj Atulkar said. Officials stated that enhanced security measures were taken to maintain law and order amid growing public attention surrounding the movement.
