Actor Prakash Raj and education reformer Sonam Wangchuk joined a protest in Bengaluru on Sunday against alleged irregularities in India’s education and examination system, with both lending support to a campaign led by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), a citizens’ gathering seeking changes to employment and competitive examinations.
The demonstration in Freedom Park brought together students, activists and campaign supporters, despite the rain. The group called for judicial intervention in cases related to the examination.
Addressing the gathering, Raj questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s silence on repeated allegations of exam papers being leaked.
“Our Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the most educated. He has studied entire political science and has seen how politics works, how teachers work, how papers are leaked. So why are you silent, educated Prime Minister?” Raj said.
Raj also said he would like to see Wangchuk lead the country’s Ministry of Education, describing him as someone who has dedicated himself to rethinking education.
“I had a dream and a wish. I wish Sonam Wangchuk would be our education minister. I would like to thank Sonam Wangchuk. Who will support the student movement if not a man with a vision for education,” he said.
These statements sparked slogans from supporters demanding that Wangchuk become Minister of Education. However, Wangchuk distanced himself from this proposal, saying the position should instead be held by someone who embodies the same principles.
“The minister should be like him, not like him,” Wangchuk said, explaining that he did not see himself in this position. He said he traveled to Bengaluru to support the campaign against what he described as a “corrupt” education system.
Referring to a previous visit to the city, Wangchuk said he was happy to return to Freedom Park, where people had previously gathered in support of Ladakh. Talking about Raj, he said, “I am happy to be with Prakash Raj here. He came to visit me in Ladakh. I didn’t know him well. I only knew he was a good actor, but then someone said he is a good villain.”
Wangchuk later expanded his remarks beyond education, arguing that the country’s difficulties extend beyond economic measures. “India is no longer just suffering from a fiscal deficit, it is suffering from a confidence deficit,” he said.
He also spoke about fear among citizens, saying: “If people had to live in fear, they might have been born in China. At least the trains were faster.”
The organisation, led by Abhijit Debaki, says it adopted the name Janata Cockroach Party after its members were referred to as “cockroaches” during court proceedings related to one of its petitions. Debke, whose organization has built a campaign around alleged exam irregularities, also participated in the event.
CJP spokesperson Sourav Das said the movement started with a single social media post before evolving into a nationwide campaign. “It started with one tweet by Abhijit Debki, which led to this movement. We challenge everyone, including the Supreme Court and the International Court of Justice who called us ‘cockroaches,'” Das said.
