The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has criticized Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, using the hit song of American pop star Taylor Swift. Anti-hero.
In a video shared by CJP founder Abhijit Deepki, Pradhan’s clips are lip-synched to the lyrics of the opening song, “It’s me, hey, I’m the problem, it’s me.” It depicted the Union Minister who is responsible for the controversies surrounding the country’s education system.
As the song continues with the phrase “At tea time”, the video cuts to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alluding to his connection to tea through his past as a tea seller and his recurring awareness program Chai Pe Charcha. The next lyric, “Everyone agrees”, is accompanied by images of the ongoing CJP protests at Jantar Mantar in Delhi. “Anti-hero,” the caption read.
CJP protest at Jantar Mantar
The CJP has been protesting at Jantar Mantar since June 20. They are demanding Pradhan’s resignation over a series of alleged failures in the education system. The group pointed to repeated leaks of exam papers, irregularities in assessment processes, and a lack of accountability for student suicides. Activist Sonam Wangchuk has been on an indefinite hunger strike at the protest site since June 28, demanding education reforms and statehood for Ladakh.
The organization has cited several controversies, including a NEET paper leak, which led to the exam being canceled and rescheduled more than a month later. It also pointed out the NEET 2024 paper leak, alleged irregularities in the CBSE’s On Screen Marking (OSM) system, and the leak of the Maharashtra Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) paper, which led to the postponement of the exam.
“Birthday” and “Blood”
Prime Minister Modi’s birthday message to Pradhan came while protests were underway on June 26. Modi said Pradhan is “making commendable efforts” towards education in the country.
Mahua Moitra joined the RJD’s protest at Jantar Mantar on July 4 and called for Pradhan’s resignation. Addressing the rally, the Trinamool Congress MP said the future of over three crore students and job aspirants was at stake while those in power were busy wishing each other a ‘Merry Christmas’.
“Celebrate birthdays if you want,” she said. “But don’t write ‘Happy Birthday’ on a cake with our children’s blood.”
“Team B of terrorists”
The latest video comes days after Pradhan came under fire for describing sections of protesting youth and the CJP as the “B-Team of terrorists”.
This led to a sharp reaction from Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who demanded that the minister apologize and resign. Describing these statements as an example of the “arrogance of power” exercised by the government, Rahul Gandhi said that students seeking fair examinations and a secure future should not be branded as terrorists.
“Dharmendra Pradhan, immediately apologize to millions of youth of this country and resign over your failures,” he said. He also accused the government of turning the education system into an “extortion racket.”
Abhijit Debaki also responded to Pradhan, saying that the minister “has the blood of more than 17 students on his hands.”
Earlier, Deepak shared a video of the father of an 18-year-old student from Ahmedabad who allegedly died by suicide on June 18. In the video, the grieving father questioned how his son and other students could be classified as “terrorists,” and told Dibek: “My son is like everyone else… Show them my son.”
