‘Cockroach’ Protesters Flood Delhi’s Everywhere, Demand Education Minister’s Resignation

Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, the capital’s designated protest site near Parliament, was overwhelmed on Saturday by thousands of self-described “cockroach” supporters demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged leaks of national examination papers, including the NEET entrance test.

Supporters of the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) began gathering at the venue early in the morning. The protest was led by CJP founder Abhijit Deepke, who arrived at Jantar Mantar around 10:30 a.m. shortly after returning to India from Boston in the United States.

The demonstration went ahead after a public interest litigation seeking to block the gathering was rejected. Petitioners had urged authorities to prevent participants from reaching Delhi by imposing restrictions at airports, railway stations, metro stations, and major highways. Following the court’s decision, Delhi Police announced that there would be no obstacles to a peaceful protest, although additional security measures had been put in place.

Despite heightened surveillance on major roads since Friday night, large crowds poured into Jantar Mantar on Saturday morning.

Deepke was seen arriving directly from Indira Gandhi International Airport wearing a white T-shirt, black jacket, and black cap, carrying a copy of B.R. Ambedkar’s autobiography.

Organizers erected a small stage bearing a placard displaying the CJP symbol alongside the words “Peaceful Protest.” Protesters raised slogans including “Dharmendra Pradhan Istifa Do” (Dharmendra Pradhan, resign), “Jai Bhim,” “Vande Mataram,” and “Godi Media Chor Hai.” Many carried placards criticizing recurring examination paper leaks and streamed the event live on social media platforms.

Delhi Police and anti-riot personnel maintained a strong presence around the protest site.

Addressing the crowd, Deepke said India’s youth would no longer remain silent. “The youth of this country will fight. Cockroaches do not fear, and they do not die,” he declared.

He accused the government of focusing on identifying the organizers of the movement through social media monitoring rather than addressing the protesters’ demands. According to him, authorities should have taken the allegations seriously and asked the education minister to step down.

During the gathering, organizers announced plans for a larger rally at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan on June 23.

Many ordinary citizens also attended the demonstration. Several participants told journalists that the movement was aimed at protecting the interests of India’s younger generation and restoring confidence in the country’s examination system.

At one point, protesters detained a man carrying an insecticide spray and handed him over to police. Witnesses said the man accused demonstrators of supporting the so-called “tukde-tukde gang,” a term previously used by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and members of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to describe critics and activists they accuse of seeking to divide the country.

A separate group attempting to enter the protest site while chanting “Jai Shri Ram” was removed by police.

As the movement gained traction online, BJP leaders reportedly accused its supporters of being sympathetic to Pakistan and claimed that U.S. billionaire George Soros was backing the campaign.

Ahead of the demonstration, Deepke had urged supporters not to crowd airports and repeatedly emphasized that the protest must remain peaceful. He instructed participants not to carry flags of any political party and instead encouraged them to bring books, copies of the Indian Constitution, and the national flag.