New Delhi: Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said on Wednesday that movements like the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) reflect the anger and frustration of young people, but it is political parties that must convert such sentiment into sustained democratic action.
In an interview with PTI Videos, the Congress leader said protest movements can raise public concerns, but they cannot replace organised parties in a democracy. On the CJP, he said opinions are split, adding: “Some describe it as being influenced by the deep state, others see it as an expression of youth frustration. There is no way to verify either claim, but what is clear is that it has gained attention on social media and in public discourse, even though it is not a formal political party.”
Ramesh said such movements can show public anger, especially among young people, but political parties are needed to turn that anger into action. He added that CJP protesters at Jantar Mantar want Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to resign over alleged NEET-UG irregularities and related concerns.
The protest, which started on Saturday, has drawn students and student groups, and on Tuesday the demonstrators held a symbolic “diaper donation drive” as part of their agitation, he said. Ramesh also referred to Congress efforts on education issues, saying Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi has been raising examination and education policy concerns through a wider campaign.
He said the campaign is not just about exam irregularities, but also about bigger education issues like the growing use of private coaching and low public spending. He added that many families now spend more on coaching than the government spends on public education, and that this needs serious discussion.
Ramesh also raised concerns about the rising cost of medical education and its growing privatisation, saying these are important issues in the campaign. He noted that over 20 lakh students took the re-conducted NEET (UG) exam on Sunday after the earlier paper was cancelled over alleged leaks, which triggered protests across the country, including by CJP supporters.
