CJP demands Pradhan’s resignation at second Jantar Mantar protest

Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke in New Delhi on Saturday (June 20, 2026) during a protest against alleged irregularities in investigations, repeated paper leaks and demands for accountability from the government. | Photo credit: PTI

Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke returned to the capital on Saturday (June 20, 2026) after demonstrations in six cities and staged a second protest at Jantar Mantar, which the police moved to evacuate after the 5 pm deadline. Mr. Dipke has vowed to continue the agitation until Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigns, a key demand of the CJP, which gained over two million followers on social media in a matter of days last month.

Follow live updates of CJP protest on Jantar Mantar live updates.

The crowds at the site were comparable to those at the protest on June 6, when Mr. Dipke came straight from the airport after flying in from the US. However, the crowds began to largely disperse after police repeatedly announced over loudspeakers that the demonstration permit had expired at 5:00 p.m. Several hundred protesters nevertheless stayed behind and surrounded Mr. Dipke amid fears that he might be detained by the CJP.

As the 5pm deadline approached, Mr. Dipke said the protest was not over and would continue until Mr. Pradhan resigned. Mr. Dipke then shared a handwritten letter asking the police for permission to extend the demonstration. While the police ruled out extending the allowed time for the CJP’s protest, they also reduced their presence at the venue later in the evening as the crowds thinned.

Late into the evening, Mr. Dipke remained on the dais set up at the site even as police restricted access to the Jantar Mantar road stretch where protests are usually allowed. Mr Dipke claimed that even water was not allowed into the compound, which he described as a “violation of human rights”. After sunset, authorities turned off floodlights at the site and protesters began using flashlights on their phones. Police later appeared to back down, turning their floodlights back on and turning on the water.

“Why is Dharmendra Pradhan still continuing as minister?” asked Mr. Dipke in the middle of the evacuation. “Is the law just for us? You (Delhi Police) are giving us a warning that your time of protests is over. You should also warn Dharmendra Pradhan that your time in the ministry is over.”

Mr Dipke asked his supporters to bring metal utensils and bang them during the protest, echoing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call in 2020 for citizens to show gratitude to frontline workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The protest followed similar demonstrations in Pune, Lucknow, Amritsar, Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Jaipur.

Published – 20 Jun 2026 22:38 IST