‘Dharmendra Pradhan, cockroaches are coming!’ CJP plans nationwide protest in Delhi
New Delhi: The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), the satirical citizens' collective that emerged as a prominent voice during the NEET-UG paper leak controversy, has called for a nationwide protest in Delhi on June 20, demanding accountability from Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and renewing calls for his resignation over alleged failures in handling examination-related issues.
"Dharmendra Pradhan, cockroaches are coming! We once again request you to take moral responsibility and resign,” CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke wrote in X.
Announcing the mobilisation on social media, Abhijeet Dipke urged people from across the country to gather in the national capital, saying the protest would seek answers from the Centre over concerns affecting students and young aspirants. The venue of the demonstration is expected to be announced shortly.
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The call comes days after hundreds of students and youths, many wearing the group's trademark cockroach masks, participated in a demonstration organised by the CJP in Nagpur, where protesters demanded Pradhan's resignation and criticised the government's response to examination controversies.
Meanwhile, Dipke on Tuesday ruled out entering electoral politics, asserting that citizens should not be forced to contest elections simply to demand their basic rights.
Addressing a press conference ahead of a major nationwide demonstration in Nagpur, Dipke targeted the Centre for failing to reach out to the country's youth following the widespread NEET-UG paper leak controversy.
"Why should we contest elections? If everyone in this country has to contest elections to demand their rights, how will it work?"Dipke said.
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Turning his focus to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Dipke said he must first apologise to the families of the five or six students who reportedly committed suicide in the aftermath of the exam's irregularities and subsequent cancellations.
"Pradhan Mantri ji tweets if anything happens across the world, but here, students of this country are committing suicide, and there is not even a condolence tweet for them. How long will you talk about your 'Mann ki Baat' and 'Pariksha pe Charcha'? At least listen to the students' Mann ki Baat," Dipke said, adding that regular interaction would help the government understand and solve student grievances.