CJP protest: No permission for Day 2 but youths ready for long haul, refuse to leave Jantar Mantar
CJP protesters camped overnight at Jantar Mantar and vowed to continue their agitation until Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigns.
Protesters rest on the floor during a protest by Cockroach Janata Party seeking Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation over the NEET (UG) 2026 paper leak, in New Delhi. (ANI Photo)
By around 3:30 pm on Sunday — a day after the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) held a protest at Jantar Mantar — people at the site, many of them having been at the site since Saturday morning and having camped overnight, had become tired. The harsh summer sun and lack of shade saw many restless, dispersing.
Then an A R Rahman’s rendition of ‘Vande Mataram’ acted as magic. The crowd started to gather near the stage. As tracks like ‘Hindustani’ and ‘Chak De India’ played on speakers next, the crowd shook all pain off. CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke urged protesters to stay at Jantar Mantar till Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned and on Sunday, they seemed ready for the long haul.
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The CJP received an approval from the police for a protest only till 5 pm on Saturday. “There has been no arrest, no case, nor detention today. Some people, who were creating ruckus, were isolated,” said a senior police officer on Sunday. “They were allowed to hold a protest only till 5 pm yesterday. But protesters have still not left the venue,” he added.
Alauddin Ansari (21), while getting ready to spend the nightat the site, said: “Last night, I wanted to stay, but I went outside to get water and they did not allow me to come inside again. So today, I am not going to step outside at all.” A student of Himachal Pradesh’s Shoolini University, Ansari works at Amazon in Noida.
“I had taken the UGC-NET exam in 2024, and it had gone well. When news emerged that there was a paper leak, I was heartbroken,” said 27-year old Prashant Sagar, who has come all the way from Uttar Pradesh’s Hathras. He was at the site on Saturday night. “The ground was simmering hot till around midnight. Police were not allowing food and water at the protest site initially. Even the water connection inside the toilet was cut. But after repeated requests, they allowed food and water inside around 11 pm,” Sagar said.
“It is important that we come here, even if no one resigns. The pictures and videos of the protest will create a sense of fear among the authorities,” said Sachin Sangwan (27), who is also disappointed that not many showed up even on a Sunday. “People should have come here to back the youth.”
Protesters rest on the floor during a protest by Cockroach Janata Party seeking Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation over the NEET (UG) 2026 paper leak, in New Delhi. (ANI Photo) 
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