CJP to launch nationwide protest against Dharmendra Pradhan in Pune today, threatens indefinite Jantar Mantar sit-in

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) will hit the streets of Pune today to launch a nationwide protest demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the exam-related controversies.

The latest agitation comes days after an online movement led by US returnee Abhishek Deepak staged a protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi on June 6. The protest will be held at the Ambedkar statue at Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) at 4 pm.

The demand for Pradhan’s resignation comes in the wake of alleged examination irregularities, including the NEET-UG paper leak and problems faced by Class 12 students due to the on-screen marking system.

The CJP has warned of an indefinite sit-in at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar from June 20 unless Pradhan resigns. The group said in a statement that protests would be held in several cities, including Pune, Lucknow, Amritsar, Bengaluru, Jaipur and Hyderabad. CJP founder Dipke said in a post on X that climate activist Sonam Wangchuk will join the demonstration in Pune today.

Calling it a national issue affecting millions of students and families, the group said: “Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has failed to take responsibility for these repeated failures. Accountability must start at the top. Therefore, we reiterate our demand: Dharmendra Pradhan should resign.”

It said that if the government did not respond to the demand, “the youth of this country will gather on June 20 at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi for an indefinite peaceful protest until the minister resigns”.

The CJP, which described itself as a movement to defend the integrity of India’s education system, called on students, parents, teachers and citizens to join what it called a nationwide struggle for accountability and justice.

In a protest on June 6, thousands of students and youth from different parts of the country gathered to demand accountability for alleged irregularities in the competitive exams and to demand Pradhan’s resignation.

The satirical social media site was created in response to comments made by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant. He termed unemployed youth who become media or social media professionals, activists, RTI activists as cockroaches.

The group has raised its profile in recent weeks through social media campaigns targeting exam-related issues and sought to position itself as a youth-led platform advocating for reforms in the education sector.

Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has failed to take responsibility for these repeated failures. Accountability must start at the top.

Organizers described the June 6 rally as the start of a larger nationwide campaign, with the new announcement outlining the next phase of protests in multiple cities and a proposed indefinite sit-in in the state capital.