The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), on Friday, extended its support to the Cockroach Janta Party's (CJP) ongoing protest at Jantar Mantar and announced that a delegation of its leaders will visit the demonstration on Sunday, 5 July, at 11 am.
In a letter addressed to CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke, the National Coordination Council of SKM expressed solidarity with the student-led agitation, which has entered its fifteenth day, and said it stood with the students, youth and their families participating in the protest. “Samyukta Kisan Morcha expresses its wholehearted solidarity with the peaceful democratic protest being organised by the Cockroach Janta Party at Jantar Mantar... and with the youth, students, and their families participating in it," the letter stated.
The farmers' body also criticised what it described as persistent paper leaks and mismanagement of public examinations under the Union government, asserting that students deserved a fair and credible education system. "We also extend our deepest sympathies to the students and families who have been affected by the chronic paper leaks and examination mismanagement... Every student has the right to a transparent, fair, and credible system of education and examinations. Ensuring accountability in this regard is the responsibility of the government," the letter read.
Reiterating its earlier stand, SKM recalled that its National Council had, on 17 June, adopted a resolution backing the student movement and demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The organisation also criticised what it called a "scam culture" and lack of accountability in India's education sector.
Drawing a link between the farmers' movement and the ongoing student agitation, SKM said the two struggles were inseparable. "The students and the youth are also the children of farmers and the future of India... When the country's youth raise their voices for their education, their future, and justice, it becomes the moral responsibility of farmers and all democratic, people-oriented organisations to stand with them."
Responding to the announcement, CJP welcomed the farmers' body's support and reiterated its demand for Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation. In a press release, the organisation said the visit would strengthen the movement's call for transparency, accountability and structural reforms in India's examination system.
Abhijeet Dipke also thanked SKM in a post on X, writing, "I thank the Samyukt Kisan Morcha from the bottom of my heart for extending their support to the CJP's protest at Jantar Mantar seeking resignation of the Education Minister. Jai Jawan – Jai Kisan!"
The development comes as climate activist Sonam Wangchuk entered the seventh day of his indefinite hunger strike at Jantar Mantar. According to the Cockroach Janta Party, Wangchuk has lost nearly five kilograms since beginning his fast and his health is deteriorating rapidly. The organisation has repeatedly urged the Union government to act on its demands, warning that Wangchuk will continue his fast until action is taken against the Education Minister over alleged irregularities in the country's examination system.
The wider protest entered its fifteenth day on Saturday and has steadily drawn support from political leaders, activists and members of civil society. Among those who have visited or publicly backed the movement are Trinamool Congress MPs Mahua Moitra and Sagarika Ghose, CPI(M) leaders M.A. Baby and Brinda Karat, CPI general secretary D. Raja, CPI(ML) Liberation leader Dipankar Bhattacharya, activist Yogendra Yadav, senior advocate Prashant Bhushan, transparency campaigner Anjali Bhardwaj, RTI activist Nikhil Dey, actors Prakash Raj and Atul Kulkarni, as well as leaders including Arvind Kejriwal and Uddhav Thackeray, who have expressed solidarity with the agitation.
Launched on 20 June, the Cockroach Janta Party's protest is demanding accountability over alleged irregularities in several national examinations, including NEET, and seeking the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
