CHHATRAPATI SAMBHAJINAGAR: Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke on Sunday declared that his agitation against alleged irregularities in examinations and recruitment processes would persist until Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan steps down from his post.
Successful Protest at Jantar Mantar
According to PTI, Dipke claimed that the protest held under the CJP banner at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on Saturday was largely successful, drawing around 7,000 participants. He announced that the movement would now be expanded across the country.
The CJP is a youth-led online movement that has been demanding accountability for alleged irregularities in various examinations and recruitment processes, including NEET, CBSE, CUET, and SSC exams.
Return to Residence
Dipke arrived at his residence in the MIDC Waluj area of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district in Maharashtra on Sunday morning and was received by family members. Later, he reiterated that the agitation undertaken by the Cockroach Janata Party will not stop until Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigns.
"The protest we staged (at Jantar Mantar) was successful, as 6,000 to 7,000 people attended it. This agitation will go nationwide. We won't step back till Dharmendra Pradhan resigns," Dipke asserted. "We will roll out a further action plan to take this agitation nationwide," he added.
Increased Security
Security at Dipke's residence was beefed up. "We have increased the security at his residence from today. Earlier, 11 security personnel were deployed, now the number has reached 15. The deployed staff is from the local police station as well as the city police headquarters," an official from MIDC Waluj police station said.
Details of the Protest
Hundreds of protesters gathered at Delhi's Jantar Mantar on Saturday under the banner of the CJP, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged irregularities in examinations and recruitment tests. Addressing the gathering, Dipke urged participants not to be "scared" and to continue their fight for accountability.
Later, at a press conference in the national capital, CJP spokespersons said they would give the Centre one week to either remove Pradhan from office or for him to resign voluntarily. Failing that, they warned, the organisation would launch a nationwide agitation.
Dipke, who had called for the protest, arrived in Delhi from the United States on Saturday morning. Emerging from the airport carrying a copy of B R Ambedkar's autobiography, he later proceeded to Jantar Mantar after obtaining permission from the Delhi Police.
Protesters' Actions
Protesters, armed with posters demanding Pradhan's resignation, were seen wearing cockroach masks, which were being distributed at the venue. Besides demanding the education minister's resignation, the protesters also raised slogans demanding that the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) stop indulging in "Hindu-Muslim" politics, and hailed the motherland with "Bharat Mata ki Jai" slogans.
Online Movement's Growth
Launched as an online campaign in May, the CJP amassed more than 22 million followers on Instagram and urged young people across the country to participate in the protest in New Delhi against alleged irregularities in examinations and recruitment tests, in what was seen as a show of strength by the movement.
The protest also saw the participation of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, CPI(ML) Liberation general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya, CPI leader Annie Raja, and activists affiliated with Left student and youth organisations.
With agency inputs
