CJP protesters defy police, demand Education Minister’s resignation

Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke and supporters staged a late-night protest at Jantar Mantar demanding Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation over the NEET paper leak. Dipke, joined by activist Sonam Wangchuk, vowed to persist until Pradhan steps down, with Wangchuk announcing a hunger strike from June 27 if demands are unmet.

New Delhi: The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke and the outfit’s supporters protested till late Saturday night at Jantar Mantar seeking the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan despite the Delhi Police asking them to vacate the site.

The protesters remained at Jantar Mantar beyond the permitted time, with police making announcements around 9.30 pm asking them to end the demonstration.

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The protesters asserted that they would not leave until Pradhan, who is at the heart of the NEET paper leak controversy, resigns.

Earlier, the CJP alleged that the Delhi Police had switched off lights at the protest site and restricted access to water, food and washrooms. The protesters later said water access was restored and lights were switched back on.

Meanwhile, the police refused an extension for the protest and directed Dipke to immediately vacate the site with his supporters, saying the demonstration had permission only from 10 am to 5 pm.

In a letter issued by the Office of the Deputy Commissioner of Police, New Delhi district, the police said the continuation of the protest beyond permitted hours was “illegal” and in violation of the conditions of permission.

The police also warned of legal action against the organisers.

The protest began around 1 pm under heavy police deployment, CCTV surveillance, layers of barricades, and body-cam-wearing personnel moving through the site.

The stage wore a banner with the message reading “Peaceful protest, Dharmendra Pradhan must resign,” while another banner paid tributes to NEET aspirants who died by suicide after the paper leak and consequent cancellation of the entrance exam.

Dipke, who renewed his call for Pradhan’s resignation, was joined by climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, who announced that he would go on a hunger strike on June 27 if the minister does not step down.

The CJP founder also demanded compensation of Rs 1 crore for families of those who died by suicide.

Hundreds of protesters, mostly young people, responded to Dipke’s call to bring “thali and chammach” and beat them at the venue as chants of “Dharmendra Pradhan must resign” rent the air.

“If banging plates could drive away corona, then banging plates can drive away Dharmendra Pradhan too,” Dipke said.

Around 4 pm, Dipke asked the crowd whether they wanted to end the demonstration or continue “till Pradhan resigns.”

Many protesters responded in favour of continuing the sit-in, following which the CJP founder announced that they would remain at the venue.

“I request Delhi Police authorities, since youth are here from all over the country, they want to continue the sit-in. The protest has been peaceful. We request Delhi Police to extend our permission. We are just innocent students,” he said.

Police, however, refused the permission.

Soon, several protesters raising slogans of ‘Jai Bhim’ and ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’ gathered around the stage where Dipke and others were present. A few left as police presence increased at the site.

This was the second protest organised by the CJP at Jantar Mantar over repeated paper leaks and demands for accountability from the government. It came a day ahead of the NEET-UG re-examination on Sunday.

Earlier, Dipke said the channel for dialogue with the Centre was open, but only on the condition that the education minister resigns.

“If there are arrests, I will be the first to court arrest,” he told protesters.

The CJP founder also criticised communal politics and said, “Has Hindu-Muslim politics helped you? Has it stopped paper leaks? What are you getting? Only one party is benefiting.”

Wangchuk, who earlier joined two of CJP’s protests, said, “Simply banging plates will not solve anything. When I sit on a fast, I hope you will stand with me.”

“We are demanding accountability from a minister who has clearly made mistakes. There should be accountability, and if required, there should be mass resignations,” he added.

Supporters wore cockroach masks at the protest and held placards, some of which read: “If the deaf are to hear, the sound has to be very loud” and “Sack Union Education Minister”.

Ahead of the protest, Dipke had written an open letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, demanding that accountability be fixed over concerns raised by students.

This demonstration follows CJP’s earlier protest at Jantar Mantar on June 6.