The Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) will hold a protest on June 6 at Jantar Mantar in the capital, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, the movement’s spokespersons said at its first press conference on Wednesday (June 3, 2026). “We seek minimum accountability from this system where rot has set in,” said spokesperson Saurav Das.
Mr. Pradhan has taken flak in recent days due to the paper leaks and cancellation of NEET-UG, the medical entrance examination, and problems with the Central Board of Secondary Education’s new on-screen marking evaluation system for the Class 12 examination.
Abhijeet Dipke, who started the CJP social media accounts last month, garnering millions of followers, will arrive in Delhi from the U.S. on Saturday morning. He will then approach the Parliament Street police station seeking permission to protest at Jantar Mantar, said Mr. Das, a journalist who joined two others as CJP spokespersons this week.
Mr. Das dismissed the transfers of the CBSE Chairman and Secretary as a mere “eyewash”, adding that “the government is not talking to us no matter how hard we try.” He asked people from every political background to attend the June 6 protest “without their party or organisational banners,” to call for Mr. Pradhan’s resignation.
“We’re in absurd times where I have to explain why [Mr. Pradhan] must resign,” said Vijeta Dahiya, another spokesperson who also works as a filmmaker. “We have this absurd notion of democracy; vote once every five years, choose kings, and think about the next election. Democracy has to be dynamic. Our representatives should represent our wants, needs, and concerns. We haven’t chosen kings but employees. If they don’t do their work, they must be questioned.”
Mr. Das refused to commit the CJP, which has gained over 22 million followers on Instagram, to any other positions at this stage. “It’s a 15-day old movement that started as satire,” he said. “We have seen irregularities in five exams. This is our priority for now. After this too, we will continuously connect with the youth and raise issues,” he added.
Published - June 03, 2026 08:08 pm IST
Source: The Hindu - India News
