The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest at Jantar Mantar entered its third consecutive day on Monday, with founder Abhijeet Dipke declaring that the agitation would continue through the night and would not end until accountability was fixed. Dipke demanded the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, calling his resignation the "bare minimum" and appealing to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to meet students at the protest site.
Protest Draws Students and Activists Despite Working Day
The demonstration drew students, job aspirants, and activists from various parts of the country. Candles were lit in memory of students who allegedly died by suicide following the paper-leak row. NEET aspirants who appeared for the re-test on Sunday shared their experiences, speaking about the stress of preparing for an examination twice. One participant from Bihar said the cancellation of the examination after allegations of irregularities had left students mentally exhausted.
Dipke Accuses Security Forces of Harassing Supporters
Earlier in the day, Dipke accused security forces and Delhi Police of allegedly checking Aadhaar cards of supporters and protesters at the gates. He questioned why students who reached examination centres minutes late were denied opportunities while those allegedly responsible for paper leaks had not faced similar consequences.
Support from Left Student Groups and Free Library Initiative
The protest also drew support from Left student groups and youth organisations, including SFI, AISA, AISF, and KYS. As part of its “Fight for Education with Education” initiative, the AISF set up a free library at the venue using nearly 100 books donated by students, parents, and supporters.
Individual Stories Reflect Mood of Gathering
Away from the stage, individual stories reflected the mood of the gathering. Three friends travelled from Uttarakhand without informing their families, while a volunteer from Uttar Pradesh returned for a second phase of the agitation. Among the protesters was Babita Anjali, a liver cancer patient from Odisha, who attended with her 13-year-old son, saying she had come for the future of every student in the country. The protest continued under police security arrangements, with barricades placed around the site.
