Abhijeet Dipke (Image/PTI)
NEW DELHI: The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) laid out its next course of action, warning that it will launch fresh protests across the country if union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan is not removed from office or does not resign within the next seven days.The announcement comes after hundreds of students, young professionals and supporters gathered at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi under the banner of the youth-led movement, demanding accountability over alleged irregularities in examinations and recruitment tests.Addressing reporters after the protest, CJP spokespersons Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka thanked supporters for participating in what they described as a peaceful demonstration and reiterated the group’s demand for Pradhan’s resignation.”CJP calls for fresh protests if the government doesn’t sack Dharmendra Pradhan within the next 7 days,” party’s official handle posted in a post on a X. CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke also said that the movement was only entering its next phase.In a post on X, Dipke reflected on Saturday’s protest and thanked participants who travelled to Delhi to join the demonstration.”Yesterday, thousands of us made history. Our peaceful protest at Jantar Mantar showed the government a trailer of what cockroaches are capable of when we unite.” Highlighting the large number of first-time protesters at the event, he said many participants had never previously taken part in any demonstration but were motivated by frustration over the state of the education system.”Most people who joined us yesterday had never participated in a protest before. But they felt emboldened by our collective presence to express their sheer anger and frustration at the education system. Change cannot happen if we don’t make our voices heard.”Dipke also thanked supporters, including students and schoolchildren, for attending despite the summer heat and stressed that peaceful mobilisation remained the movement’s biggest strength.”I want to thank each and every one of you who braved the hot summer sun, young kids and students included, and proved that a peaceful protest is our greatest strength. The government cannot touch a unified, peaceful movement. Us cockroaches don’t ever need to fear them.”However, he made it clear that the agitation would continue if the Centre failed to act on the group’s demand.”But this doesn’t end here. Dharmendra Pradhan has wronged an entire generation. If he is not removed or does not step down within the next 7 days, we will be forced to continue our protest on the ground.”Dipke also said he would address supporters through an Instagram Live session to discuss the movement’s future plans.The CJP founder returned to his residence in Maharashtra’s Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district on Sunday morning. Speaking to reporters, he claimed that between 6,000 and 7,000 people had attended the Jantar Mantar gathering and said the movement would now expand beyond Delhi.”The protest we staged 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. We will roll out a further action plan to take this agitation nationwide,” Dipke said. The Jantar Mantar protest marked the first major on-ground mobilisation by the Cockroach Janta Party, a movement that began online and rapidly gained traction on social media. Protesters wearing cockroach masks demanded Pradhan’s resignation over alleged irregularities in examinations including NEET, CUET, CBSE and SSC-related processes.
