New Delhi: A few hundred supporters of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), led by founder Abhijeet Dipke, clung to Jantar Mantar late on Saturday night, pressing for Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation despite repeated Delhi Police orders to clear the area.
Dipke called on students and parents to rally at 9 am on Sunday. On Saturday, the group lingered past its permitted window, triggering police announcements to end the protest.
The demonstrators vowed not to leave until Pradhan — the focal point of the NEET paper leak scandal — resigns.
Delhi Police had authorised CJP to protest at Jantar Mantar from 10 am to 5 pm on Saturday. Minutes before 5 pm, Dipke declared the sit‑in would continue until Pradhan stepped down over the alleged paper leaks.
As evening set in, police used loudspeakers to say permission had expired. Officers, supported by the Rapid Action Force, urged people to leave, branding the extension ‘illegal’ and a breach of conditions. They cautioned organisers over legal action and posted banners around the venue.
By 8 pm, most had departed, but a few hundred stayed with Dipke on stage. CJP claimed Delhi Police switched off lights and blocked water, food and washroom access. Protesters later said water was restored and lights turned back on.
The protest started around 1 pm amid heavy police presence, CCTV coverage, stacked barricades and body‑cam officers moving through the site.
A stage banner read “Peaceful protest, Dharmendra Pradhan must resign,” while another honoured NEET aspirants who died by suicide after the leak and the exam’s cancellation.
Dipke renewed his resignation demand and was joined by climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, who said he would begin a hunger strike on June 27 if the minister refuses to step down.
Dipke also sought ₹1 crore compensation for families of those who died by suicide.
Hundreds of mostly young protesters followed Dipke’s call to bring “thali and chammach” and beat them at the venue as “Dharmendra Pradhan must resign” chants filled the air. Some carried placards while others clattered plates, their noise piercing the crowd clamouring for the minister’s removal with ‘Go Pradhan Go’ slogans.
“If banging plates could drive away corona, then banging plates can drive away Dharmendra Pradhan too,” Dipke said.
This was CJP’s second Jantar Mantar protest over repeated paper leaks and demands for government accountability. It came a day before Sunday’s NEET‑UG re‑examination.
Earlier, Dipke said dialogue with the Centre was open, but only if the education minister resigns.
“If there are arrests, I will be the first to court arrest,” he told protesters.
Wangchuk, who has attended two earlier CJP protests, said, “Simply banging plates will not solve anything. When I sit on a fast, I hope you will stand with me.”
Before the protest, Dipke sent an open letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking accountability for issues raised by students.
The demonstration came after CJP’s earlier sit‑in at Jantar Mantar on June 6.
“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 and held placards, some reading: “If the deaf are to hear, the sound has to be very loud” and “Sack Union Education Minister”.
