School students, college-goers, competitive exam aspirants, parents, activists, and political leaders gathered at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on Saturday as the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) expanded its protest from an online campaign into a broader youth mobilization. The demonstration demanded the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged examination-related lapses.
Support from Prominent Figures
Among those extending support were climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, lawyer Yogita Bhayana, and CPI(ML) Liberation general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya. Their presence underscored how the movement has started attracting voices beyond student circles.
Bhattacharya joined the gathering in solidarity with the protesters, arguing that anger among young people had deepened due to repeated paper leak controversies, unemployment concerns, and what he described as the weakening of public education systems. He also backed demands for accountability from the Education Ministry and supported calls for Minister Pradhan's resignation.
Frustration with Political Parties
Some participants expressed frustration not only with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) but also with opposition parties, arguing that issues affecting students and young people rarely receive sustained political attention. This sentiment reflected a growing disillusionment with the political establishment's handling of education-related crises.
Parents Voice Concerns
Parents at the protest highlighted that education concerns have increasingly become family concerns. Shilpa, who attended the protest with her daughter, said, 'When children spend years preparing for examinations, parents carry the same stress and uncertainty with them. Education increasingly feels less like a public service and more like a system built around money.' Her words captured the widespread anxiety among families affected by the recurring examination irregularities.
The protest at Jantar Mantar marks a significant escalation in the movement, drawing together diverse groups united by a common demand for accountability in the education system. With support from activists like Wangchuk and political leaders like Bhattacharya, the call for the education minister's resignation has gained momentum, reflecting deep-seated concerns over the integrity of examinations and the future of young people in India.
