Congress MP Jairam Ramesh on Wednesday described the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) movement as an important vehicle for expressing youth frustration, but stressed that established political parties must ultimately carry the issues forward. Speaking to PTI Videos, the Congress general secretary said democracies cannot rely solely on movements and are ultimately anchored in political parties.
CJP Movement and Its Significance
When asked about the CJP, which has been staging a sit-in at Delhi's Jantar Mantar, Ramesh noted differing views on its origins. "Some people say it is sponsored by the deep state, some people say it is a reflection of the frustration of youth. There is no way to prove (either) but the fact is - it caught the social media space and it got a lot of headlines, but it is not a political party," he said. He emphasized that political parties and party structures ultimately matter in a democracy.
Role of Political Parties
Ramesh asserted that while movements have their place, democracies cannot depend solely on them. "It is political parties that ultimately count. It is the party structure that counts. So while it was an important vehicle for sending a message of frustration on the part of the youth, ultimately I think established political parties have to take this forward," he stated.
CJP Protest Demands
The CJP has continued its protest at Jantar Mantar, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG examination, including a paper leak. On Tuesday, protesters held a "diaper donation drive" as part of their campaign. The group has vowed to continue the sit-in until Pradhan resigns. The protest, which began on Saturday, has attracted students, aspirants, and members of various student organizations.
Congress Campaign on Education Issues
Ramesh also addressed the Congress party's campaign on NEET-UG and CBSE OSM glitches. He said Rahul Gandhi has spoken to students in Kota and will continue in Prayagraj, Patna, and culminate in Delhi in mid-July. "He (Gandhi) is not just raising the issue of NEET and CBSE, he is raising the fundamental issue of education, he is raising the issue of examination, he is raising the issue of public investment in education," Ramesh told PTI.
Coaching vs Public Education Spending
Ramesh highlighted a key point from Gandhi's Kota presentation, which he said has not received adequate national attention. "Families are spending more on coaching centres than the central government is spending on education," he said. He called this a "fundamental mismatch" and "asymmetry" in the education system. "Why are coaching centres so popular in this country? Why is medical education so expensive in this country? Why is everything getting privatised? Those are the questions that he (Gandhi) raised in Kota and also those are the questions we have to raise in Parliament and outside," Ramesh added.
NEET-UG Re-examination
Over 20 lakh medical aspirants took a second shot at the NEET-UG examination on Sunday after the original test was cancelled due to paper leaks. The issue has become a political flashpoint and fueled the CJP protest movement.
