The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on Thursday initiated a nationwide protest calling for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, citing alleged irregularities in competitive examinations. The party also unveiled a five-point 'exam manifesto' aimed at safeguarding student interests.
Protest at Pune University
Leading the demonstration at the Savitribai Phule Pune University campus, CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke accused the government of failing to ensure accountability for issues affecting students appearing for exams such as NEET, CBSE, and CUET.
"Our only demand since the inception of this movement has been the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan. More than one crore students have faced injustice, but nobody is ready to take responsibility or step down," Dipke stated.
He warned that if the minister does not resign, students and supporters would march to New Delhi and stage a protest at Jantar Mantar on June 20.
Five-Point Exam Manifesto
As part of the agitation, CJP released a five-point manifesto outlining necessary reforms to protect students from examination-related disruptions. The demands include:
- Rs 10,000 compensation for students affected by paper leaks, postponed exams, or delayed results.
- A mandatory backup examination date within 72 hours if an exam is cancelled.
- Physical evaluation of answer sheets for paper-based examinations instead of online assessment.
- Automatic age-limit relaxation for candidates affected by delayed examinations or results.
- Mandatory technology and tender audits before examinations, particularly for computer-based tests.
Dipke also demanded that contracts for conducting examinations be awarded strictly on merit and called for stronger safeguards to prevent future irregularities. He alleged that students have repeatedly suffered due to paper leaks, exam postponements, and delays in result declarations.
He claimed that timely action by authorities against those responsible for examination irregularities could have prevented the need for a nationwide protest movement. Dipke further alleged that a teacher who participated in a protest at Jantar Mantar against exam-related issues had been suspended.
Planned Campaign and Support
The movement plans to take its campaign to several cities, including Jaipur, Lucknow, Amritsar, and Bengaluru, before culminating in a protest in New Delhi later this month.
Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, who participated in the Pune protest, expressed support for the agitation and said it was drawing attention to important issues in the education sector.
Dipke maintained that the protests would remain peaceful and within the framework of the Constitution. He also accused the government of attempting to suppress the movement by targeting its social media accounts, while reiterating that CJP remains open to dialogue.
"CJP is a big message for the country. The government cannot ignore the youth. Instead of calling us fake, try to understand the issues and problems faced by the youth in the country," he said.
Explaining the party's unusual name and symbol, Dipke said the cockroach represented growing frustration among young people over the current system and the challenges they face in education and employment.
