The youth-led movement Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on Thursday said it has received Delhi Police permission for its June 20 protest at Jantar Mantar seeking the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET paper leak controversy and exam-related issues.
Announcing the development, CJP spokesperson Sourav Das said students, parents, teachers and citizens from across the country will peacefully gather to demand accountability for paper leakage, examination irregularities and the rising number of student suicides.
“The Cockroach Janta Party has just received clearance from Delhi Police for its June 20 protest at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi, after overcoming strong resistance,” Das said on social media.
“Students, parents, teachers and citizens from all over India will gather peacefully to demand accountability from the government for paper leakage, failure in exams and the increasing number of student suicides,” he added.
Das also appealed to artists, musicians, writers and students across the country to join the June 20 rally.
Suicides due to NEET paper leakage
Speaking to the media earlier in the day, CJP spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka claimed that four NEET aspirants died by suicide in the last 24 hours and 11 students died by suicide since the NEET papers leak issue came to light.
“Four families have been destroyed. Since the NEET papers leaked, 11 students have died by suicide,” Ranka said, demanding $1 crore compensation to the families of the deceased students.
He reiterated the organisation’s firm demand for Pradhan’s resignation.
“Our position is clear. We want Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation. We will come again on June 20 to protest as there has been no communication from the government,” Ranka said.
He expressed his best wishes to the students about to take the exam, expressing his hope that the Minister of Education would be replaced by the time the exam ends.
Ranka said Pradhan’s continued leadership, despite the ongoing controversy, raises serious questions about democratic accountability.
In a statement issued later, the CJP claimed that five students died by suicide in the last 48 hours in Alwar, Sikar, Dehradun, Coimbatore and Ahmedabad due to the exam crisis.
The statement said: “These deaths bring the total number of student and youth deaths related to the ongoing crisis to 11. This is a national emergency,” calling for $Compensation of 1 crore for each affected family.
The CJP said it remained open to dialogue with the government, but claimed there had been no communication from authorities despite weeks of protests and public appeals.
She added: “We are open to dialogue, but the silence is very disturbing.”
CJP founder Abhijit Debaki had earlier warned of an indefinite sit-in if the movement’s demands are not met.
The organization did not comment on the proposed indefinite protest in its last statement announcing police approval of the June 20 demonstration.
CJP, founded by Debke, emerged as a youth-led online movement that campaigned on issues such as examination irregularities, unemployment and employment delays.
