The “Cockroach Janta Party” (CJP), a youth‑led movement named after a controversial comment by India’s chief justice, attracted thousands of protesters to Jantar Mantar on Monday. They marched toward Parliament demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged NEET exam‑paper leaks.
Police, wielding batons and tear‑gas canes, tried to disperse the crowd. Protesters, many of whom were students, teachers and professionals, clung to Indian flags and sang patriotic songs while the police stood on barricades, separated from the mass by a high chain fence.
One volunteer doctor, Gaurish Batra, treated several injured demonstrators, including a man with a blood‑stained collar and a woman with a broken leg. Police also arrested a few individuals, but the majority of protesters stayed at Jantar Mantar, refusing to leave the site despite the police statement that “no more protest is allowed.”
The CJP’s founder Abhijeet Dipke appealed to the public, and a second meeting was held with Health Minister J.P. Nadda, who later urged the demonstrators to “end the demonstration” on X. The movement, however, remains a growing pressure group across India, calling for transparency and jobs in addition to the immediate demand for Pradhan’s resignation.
Despite heavy rain, the protest spread over the day, with some activists breaking into smaller groups to reach Parliament via side streets. However, the police deployment on the evening forced most participants to retreat. Whether the CJP will continue its sit‑in or end the protest after the state‑wide lockdown of communications remains to be seen.
