Protest in New Delhi Demands Education Minister’s Resignation
NEW DELHI – On Saturday, supporters of the “Cockroach Janta Party” staged a loud protest near Parliament, demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. This came amid serious allegations of exam fraud and repeated leaks of exam papers.
Hundreds of students and young people joined the rally, making their voices heard in an effort to apply pressure on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government. In response to the protest, security forces were heavily present, utilizing both drones and cameras to oversee the situation.
Protesters used steel plates and spoons to create a loud clanging noise, a gesture that seemed to mock Modi’s earlier call for people to bang utensils in support of healthcare workers during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Many held up signs demanding Pradhan’s immediate resignation.
Abhijeet Dipke, the founder of the Cockroach Janta Party and a student at Boston University, encouraged supporters to bring plates and spoons, labeling the Education Minister as a “virus” that needs to be removed. He expressed willingness to engage in dialogue with the government if Pradhan stepped down.
“This is just the beginning. If Dharmendra Pradhan doesn’t resign or nothing is done about this situation, the protest won’t stop here,” said supporter Deepak Kumar.
The past month has seen turmoil in the education sector after a leak of exam papers for a nationwide medical program was uncovered via the social media app Telegram. Following this incident, authorities postponed the exam and temporarily banned Telegram in India. The exam is now set to take place on Sunday while an investigation is ongoing.
“For years, we live in poverty and study hard, just to have our exam papers leaked. How can I not be angry?” questioned Vicky Kumar, a protesting student.
The Cockroach Janta Party emerged in May, inspired by a Supreme Court judge’s comparison of some unemployed youth to “cockroaches,” a term that supporters embraced, leading to a social media following of over 22 million on Instagram.
The group’s cause has broadened to address issues such as rising unemployment, increasing living costs, and demand for greater government accountability. With a mix of humor and political critique, CJP supporters refer to themselves as “chronically online” and share videos and memes that mock unemployment and government failings, turning the cockroach into a symbolic figure of their resistance.
