Thousands of people, including students and young aspirants, gathered at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on Saturday to participate in a protest organised by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) over alleged irregularities in the NEET examination and other competitive tests.
The demonstration was led by CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke, who arrived in India from the United States earlier in the day and headed directly from the airport to the protest venue.
Addressing the gathering, Dipke claimed that he had mentally prepared himself for the possibility of losing his freedom upon returning to the country.
"When my flight was about to land in Delhi, I felt like I was living the final moments of my freedom. I was completely prepared to sacrifice my freedom for this cause," Dipke said.
Alleging attempts to suppress dissent, Dipke said the government may be able to take down social media content but cannot silence the movement.
"The government can remove our social media posts, but it cannot erase us," he told supporters. Calling the agitation a long-term fight, Dipke urged protesters to remain united in their demand for accountability.
"Friends, this is a long battle. It has been a month since we started demanding the resignation of the concerned minister on social media. Instead of taking action, they are focusing on distractions," he said.
The protest drew participation from thousands of demonstrators, the majority of whom were students and young people. Several elderly citizens were also seen attending the event along with their children in support of the movement.
The demonstration witnessed a brief disruption when an individual carrying an insecticide spray commonly used to kill cockroaches allegedly attempted to enter the protest site in opposition to the movement. Volunteers and organisers escorted the individual out of the venue, restoring normalcy shortly thereafter.
Meanwhile, security has been heightened outside Dipke's residence in Maharashtra's Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district. The house, located in the Waluj area, has been placed under increased police protection amid concerns that crowds may gather outside the premises following Dipke's return to India.
According to police officials, one security personnel had earlier been deployed outside Dipke's residence. However, the security arrangement has now been expanded, with a team of 10 police personnel, including an officer, stationed at the house as a precautionary measure.
The protest comes amid continuing concerns raised by students and activists over alleged irregularities in competitive examinations, including the NEET paper leak controversy.
