NEW DELHI: Hundreds of students, young professionals and activists have continued their protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar in temperatures above 40C, demanding the resignation of India’s Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over irregularities in major examinations.
The protesters belong to the online satirical movement Cockroach Janta Party, or CJP, which emerged after India’s Chief Justice Surya Kant likened some unemployed youths turning to journalism and activism to “cockroaches” and “parasites”. The judge later clarified that he was referring to people with fake degrees, but the remark had already triggered a wave of online anger.
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke, a public policy student at Boston University, said the movement began as satire after he posted: “What if all cockroaches come together?” The idea quickly gained popularity among young Indians frustrated by unemployment, paper leaks and repeated exam cancellations.
The latest protest focuses on the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for aspiring doctors, which was cancelled in May after a paper leak. Protesters say Pradhan must take moral responsibility and resign.
The movement gained further attention after climate activist Sonam Wangchuk joined the sit-in and began an indefinite hunger strike. He said India’s education system faced serious accountability failures.
At the protest site, a memorial wall displays photographs of students whose families say they died by suicide after the exam controversy.
Pradhan has refused to resign, dismissing CJP supporters as disruptive elements. Protesters, however, say they will remain on the streets until accountability is ensured.
