New Delhi: A large-scale protest unfolded at Jantar Mantar in the national capital on June 06, 2026, as hundreds of demonstrators gathered under the banner of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged examination-related irregularities, including the NEET paper leak case and concerns linked to the CBSE on-screen marking system.
The demonstration, which drew significant participation from students, young professionals, and civil society supporters, remained tightly monitored by security personnel as the crowd swelled through the morning hours.
The protest at Jantar Mantar became a focal point for grievances related to alleged lapses in India’s examination system. Protesters raised concerns over recurring paper leak incidents and claimed systemic failures in handling major competitive examinations.
The CJP, in a post shared on X, stated:
“Thousands of people. One demand. Dharmendra Pradhan must resign,”
The message was widely circulated among supporters and amplified on social media platforms as visuals from the protest showed a dense gathering of participants.
Multiple slogans echoed across the protest site, with demonstrators repeatedly chanting:
- “Dharmendra Pradhan must resign”
- “Dharmendra Pradhan, resign!”
- “Jai Bhim”
The slogans reflected growing frustration among sections of students and youth participants who alleged repeated administrative failures in examination governance.
The protest witnessed strong participation from young individuals, including school and college students. Many attendees were seen wearing symbolic cockroach masks and carrying flowers as part of their demonstration style, blending protest symbolism with visual messaging.
A 24-year-old protester from Ghaziabad, Vishal Kumar, told HT that failure to address smaller paper leak incidents earlier contributed to larger systemic issues.
“Had smaller examination paper leaks been stopped in time, a major examination like NEET-UG might not have faced such a situation,” he said, calling for accountability from the education ministry.
Several students were accompanied by parents, while young professionals also joined the gathering, making it a mixed but youth-dominated protest environment.
As the protest continued in Delhi, security measures were also strengthened in Maharashtra at the residence of CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke in the Waluj MIDC area of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.
A police officer confirmed that additional security arrangements were deployed to prevent unnecessary crowding and maintain order.
DCP (Zone 1) Pankaj Atulkar stated:
“If there is a need to deploy more manpower, we will do so after a review.”
He further added that Dipke’s parents were not currently staying at their residence and were not in contact, while declining to provide additional details on the situation.
By late morning, the protest at Jantar Mantar remained active, with authorities maintaining heightened security arrangements to ensure law and order. The demonstration continued to draw attention both on the ground and across social media platforms, amplifying the debate over examination reforms and administrative accountability.
