Public frustration over India’s education system spilled onto the streets of New Delhi on Saturday as students and young activists gathered at Jantar Mantar demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The protest came at a time when confidence in national examinations and evaluation processes is under strain, with allegations linked to the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak and disputes surrounding an online assessment system used in Class 12 evaluation.
Social activist Sonam Wangchuk joined the demonstration carrying a rose, adding symbolic weight to a movement that organizers said was about more than examination management. For many participants, the protest reflected growing concerns about trust in public institutions that shape the future of millions of students.
Wangchuk said problems in education should not be viewed only through the lens of examinations. Referring to his long-standing work with government schools in remote regions, he described the growing distrust in the education system as a matter of serious concern.
The protest was organized by the youth-focused Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), a political campaign that has rapidly gained visibility online in recent weeks. Demonstrators called for accountability from the government and the education ministry over the controversies that have dominated discussions around higher education admissions and school evaluation processes.
A Growing Youth-Led Campaign
The demonstration was led by CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke, who arrived carrying a biography of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. He urged participants to keep the protest peaceful, carry books and the national flag, and offer flowers to security personnel as a gesture of goodwill.
As Wangchuk reached the protest venue, enthusiasm among students and young participants visibly increased. Some protesters even raised slogans calling for him to be given leadership responsibility within the education sector.
What began as a satirical social media campaign only weeks ago has evolved into a wider youth-driven political initiative. CJP presents itself as a movement built by young people and for young people, tapping into dissatisfaction over governance, public accountability and opportunities for the younger generation.
The organization claims to have attracted millions of supporters through social media and says it has expanded its outreach by bringing people from different professional backgrounds into public-facing roles.
Who Is Abhijeet Dipke?
Dipke, 30, is from Maharashtra and studied journalism before moving to the United States for higher education. He completed a master’s degree in public relations at Boston University.
Before launching CJP, he was associated with the Aam Aadmi Party, where he worked in social media and election campaign operations.
The gathering at Jantar Mantar reflected a broader sentiment running through sections of India’s youth population. What began as anger over examination-related controversies has increasingly become a conversation about credibility, accountability and the future direction of the country’s education system.
