CJP Holds Jantar Mantar Protest Over Exam Irregularities

CJP has positioned its movement as one for youth holding leaders accountable to India's education system claiming that issues relating to exam scams affected millions of young students nationwide. This particular protest at the Jantar Mantar, which began as a meme on the internet with the political group claiming millions of supporters with Gen Z following.

CJP has positioned its movement as a "political youth movement" attempting to shift the narrative and political dialogue in India. The movements have a larger reflection of general frustration towards the system among youth, driven by the rising inflation and unemployment, also by perceived shortcomings in the education system. Along with CJP, Ladakh based activist Sonam Wangchuk also joined them for the movement.

CJP's manifesto calls for the banning of post-retirement positions at Rajya Sabha for chief justices, the appointment of a 50% women representation at Lok Sabha without changing its total seats and the 20 year political bar for MLAs and MPs who cross vote.

Speaking to supporters at Jantar Mantar, the Cockroach Janata Party founder Abhijeet Dipke stated why it was important to organize rallies, as protests are necessary, they are a reminder that youth will not stay quiet.

Dipke also informed that the protests were to show and assert their rights and concerns as students and youth.

"People say, what does it achieve by holding movements, sit-ins, demonstrations, and taking out processions? It proves that we are alive! For the government, we may be mere insects, but we are alive and capable of fighting for our rights," he said.

Accusing the government of not responding to its demands which included the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, he called the government's response as only targeting the group's online influence.

Further in his speech, the CJP founder informed that measures were taken to hinder their social media presence.

"It has been a month since we started demanding Pradhan's resignation on social media, but instead of taking action, they have been focused on other distractions, like hacking our accounts and getting our posts deleted. You may be able to delete our posts, but you cannot erase us from this space," he said.

Students, young professionals and many parents reached the place as students wearing cockroach masks wore their demands written on their faces and carried flowers, demonstrating over alleged exam and recruitment irregularities.

Participants were raising slogans, "Dharmendra Pradhan resign" over alleged mistakes at the examinations like NEET, CUET, CBSE and SSC.