New Delhi: Security has been tightened across Delhi as the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), which began as a satirical online movement and rapidly drew the Gen-Z to a political phenomenon, readies its 22 million Instagram followers for the first offline protest at Jantar Mantar in the national capital, demanding the resignation of Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan, under whose stewardship recent CBSE and NEET examinations turned into fiascos. Abhijeet Dipke, the founder, has returned to India and said he was “looking forward to meet all,” as he landed a major real-world test as its founder Abhijeet Dipke returned to India from Boston ahead of a proposed protest.
The Delhi Police has granted Dipke permission for the demonstration at Jantar Mantar after police officials met him at the airport. The CJP asked protesters to arrive directly to the site instead of the Parliament Street Police Station, at 10 am.
“With the full backing of the Constitution of India, cockroaches will begin our protest at Jantar Mantar demanding Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation starting at 10 am. Abhijeet Dipke is on his way to Jantar Mantar,” the CJP posted.
Education reformer and climate activist Sonam Wangchuk earlier announced that he would also join the protest if education minister does not step down by June.
Reports indicate that more than 1,000 police personnel have been earmarked for deployment across New Delhi, at border points and other strategic locations as a precautionary measure.
The CJP is only 21 days old, having been founded on May 16. What began as a digital movement quickly grew bigger as student anger around education and institutional accountability, marked by fatigue, cynicism and endless polarisation, turned into a demand to reclaim public questions.
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