Hyderabad: Dharna Chowk, typically the site of political rallies and union-led agitations, hosted a different kind of assembly on Sunday. Under a makeshift tent at Indira Park, people from various professions and age groups — including students, lawyers, engineers, doctors, artists, IT professionals, and senior citizens — gathered for the Cockroach Janta Party's (CJP) debut event in the city.
Protest Against NEET Paper Leak
The agenda was to protest the alleged NEET paper leak and irregularities in the education system. They also called for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The atmosphere was energetic but largely peaceful. Protesters held placards demanding accountability and chanted slogans such as “Samvidhan Zindabad”, “Chatra Ekta Zindabad”, “Paper Leak Nahi, Democratic Revolution”, and “This Is Not a Paper Leak, It Is a Paper Sale.” Some carried handwritten posters addressing issues from education and unemployment to corruption and governance.
Support from Activists and Analysts
The agitation, backed by the All India Youth Federation (AIYF), the youth wing of the CPI, also saw participation from environmental activist Sonam Wangchuk, political analyst Prof K Nageshwar, former Telangana Education Commission chairperson Akunuri Murali, and CJP spokesperson Vijeta Dahiya. Addressing the crowd, Wangchuk said the movement was not about gaining political power but correcting systemic failures affecting young people. “This is a movement to correct the wrong that is happening in the country, especially with the youth. This is an awakening,” he said. He emphasized that the agitation should not be limited to exam issues and called for broader civic engagement. Referring to Hyderabad’s Save KBR movement, Wangchuk praised citizens who resisted environmental degradation and urged people to continue questioning governments regardless of which party was in power. He stated that societies progress only when they move beyond hatred and focus on accountability, harmony, and development.
Public Participation
As speeches progressed, curious passers-by stopped to listen, with several eventually joining the gathering. Many attendees said they discovered the movement through social media and were attending a public protest for the first time.
Demands for Accountability
Prof Nageshwar urged Pradhan to take moral responsibility for repeated examination controversies, highlighting that former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri resigned as railway minister after a major train accident, and said ministers today should similarly accept responsibility for failures under their watch. Murali questioned the quality of higher education and employability among graduates, noting that only about 6% of graduates are considered job-ready, and asked why the remaining 94% are not equipped with necessary skills. CJP spokesperson Dahiya said the movement seeks justice for students affected by examination irregularities, especially NEET and CBSE aspirants. “Accountability must be fixed. Paper leaks cannot continue to happen repeatedly,” she said.
