New Delhi, June 6: Abhijeet Dipke, founder of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), arrived in the national capital on Saturday and reiterated his demand for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, citing student suicides and alleged irregularities in major examinations.

Speaking to reporters shortly after landing in Delhi, Dipke said, “The Education Minister must resign. Five students have committed suicide,” as he linked the issue to concerns surrounding the country's education and examination systems.

Dipke later joined hundreds of supporters gathered at Jantar Mantar for what organizers described as the movement's largest public mobilisation to date. Participants included students, young professionals, parents, and schoolchildren. Many demonstrators wore cockroach masks, carried flowers, and raised slogans seeking accountability over alleged irregularities in examinations and recruitment tests, including NEET, CBSE, CUET, and SSC.

First Major Street Demonstration

The gathering marked the first major on-ground demonstration by the youth-led movement, which has gained significant traction on social media in recent weeks.

Dipke, who recently returned from the United States to participate in the protest, has characterized the campaign as a peaceful constitutional movement aimed at demanding greater accountability in the education sector.

Ahead of the event, he urged supporters to maintain discipline and avoid confrontation with authorities. In a message posted on social media platform X, Dipke called on participants to carry books and the national flag, and to offer flowers to police personnel as a gesture of goodwill.

Organizers also issued guidelines encouraging peaceful conduct and respectful engagement with law enforcement agencies.

Support from Sonam Wangchuk

Social activist Sonam Wangchuk expressed support for the protest and appealed to participants to maintain peace throughout the demonstration.

Wangchuk advised attendees to carry only essential items such as water bottles and mobile phones and encouraged them to bring flowers. He also urged protesters to immediately alert police if they noticed anyone carrying weapons or suspicious objects.

Additionally, Wangchuk stated that he would undertake a six-week fast if Dipke were arrested.

Extensive Security Arrangements

The demonstration prompted heightened security measures across Delhi. Personnel from Delhi Police and paramilitary forces were deployed at Jantar Mantar, Indira Gandhi International Airport, major railway stations, inter-state bus terminals, and key border entry points into the city.

The CJP announced earlier in the day that authorities had granted permission for the protest at Jantar Mantar.

According to official sources, approximately 40 companies of paramilitary forces were deployed to assist Delhi Police in maintaining law and order. Senior police officers were assigned field duties, while multiple layers of barricades were installed at sensitive locations.

Vehicle checks were intensified on routes leading to central Delhi, and security was strengthened outside the residence of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan as a precautionary measure.

Officials said reserve forces remained on standby and that social media activity related to the gathering was being closely monitored. Authorities were also coordinating with private cab aggregators to assess movement patterns toward the protest venue.

More than 1,000 police personnel were deployed across New Delhi and other strategic locations as a precautionary measure.

From Satire to Political Campaign

The Cockroach Janta Party was initially launched as a satirical response to remarks made by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant during a court hearing last month.

Since then, the movement has evolved into a broader campaign focusing on examination and recruitment-related issues. It has attracted considerable attention online and garnered support from students in different parts of the country.

Police officials said the situation remained under control throughout the day, with adequate security arrangements in place. Metro services continued to operate normally.