CJP Holds First Major Protest at Jantar Mantar as Abhijeet Dipke Returns from US; Tight Security, Student Surge Mark High-Profile Demonstration

Agencies, May 6, 2026, New Delhi : New Delhi witnessed a significant political and student mobilisation on Saturday as the newly formed online movement, the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), staged its first major on-ground protest at Jantar Mantar, drawing scores of young participants amid unprecedented security arrangements across the capital.

The protest was led by CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke, who arrived at the Indira Gandhi International Airport early in the day from the United States, ahead of the demonstration. His arrival itself turned into a moment of mobilisation, with hundreds of supporters gathering at the airport carrying copies of the Constitution and chanting slogans such as “Jai Bhim” and “Abhijeet Dipke Zindabad”.

Soon after reaching the city, Dipke proceeded to Jantar Mantar, where he addressed a large crowd that included school and college students, young professionals, and social activists. Many participants were seen wearing symbolic cockroach masks and carrying flowers and national flags as part of the movement’s call for peaceful protest.

The demonstration, held under a “one-time exemption” granted by Delhi Police and permitted between 10 am and 5 pm under Supreme Court guidelines, was organised to demand the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged irregularities in national-level examinations and recruitment tests, including NEET-UG, CUET, CBSE, and SSC processes.

Addressing the gathering, Dipke launched a sharp attack on the government, accusing authorities of diverting attention from the group’s demands by focusing instead on the organisation’s social media presence. He also alleged that attempts were being made to suppress the movement digitally.

“My friends, this is a long struggle. It has been a month since we started demanding Pradhan’s resignation on social media, but instead of addressing the issue, attention is being diverted to other things, like our accounts being hacked and posts being deleted. You may delete our posts, but you cannot erase us from this space,” he said, drawing loud applause from supporters.

Recalling his journey back to India, Dipke said that moments before landing, he felt as though he was entering a decisive phase of his life. “I was prepared to sacrifice my freedom for this cause,” he told the crowd, adding that fear of imprisonment had forced many people to withdraw from public dissent.

He further declared that the youth of India remained resilient and unyielding. “The students and youth of this country have not sold themselves,” he said, triggering chants and slogans from the crowd.

Dipke also confirmed that education reform advocate and climate activist Sonam Wangchuk had expressed support for the protest and was expected to join the demonstration. Wangchuk has separately urged participants to maintain peace, avoid confrontation, and cooperate with authorities during the gathering.

Adding to the dramatic tone of the mobilisation, Wangchuk reportedly stated that he would undertake a six-week fast if Dipke were arrested, underscoring the emotional intensity surrounding the movement.

Security across Delhi was significantly intensified throughout the day, particularly around Jantar Mantar, airport routes, railway stations, bus terminals, and border entry points. More than 1,000 police personnel were deployed across sensitive locations, along with Rapid Action Force units and riot-control vehicles stationed in central parts of the city.

Authorities also implemented multi-layer barricading and intensified vehicle checks around the capital, especially near the airport and key access routes to central Delhi. Officials said these measures were precautionary, aimed at maintaining law and order during the large public gathering.

Despite initial uncertainty over permissions, Delhi Police later confirmed that the protest had been approved after receiving an application on the same day. The approval was granted in compliance with Supreme Court guidelines governing protests at designated sites, subject to strict conditions.

Ahead of the event, police presence was visible across the city from early morning. At around 8:30 am, officers were seen guiding and directing crowds toward the designated protest site at Jantar Mantar as gatherings began to swell.

Meanwhile, the atmosphere was charged with both enthusiasm and tension. Some students alleged that police had questioned them about attending the protest and warned them of consequences, including possible detention. However, senior police officials strongly denied these allegations, stating that no student had been detained or restricted from participating.

One student leader from Delhi’s Mukherjee Nagar, Avijeet Chaudhary, claimed that several activists were questioned and their personal details recorded, including inquiries made to landlords. Police officials rejected these claims, calling them incorrect and stating that only routine security monitoring was being conducted.

Another student activist alleged in a viral video that she received warnings over phone calls regarding participation in the protest. These claims have also been denied by police, who maintained that no intimidation or unlawful restrictions had been imposed.

At Jantar Mantar, the crowd continued to grow steadily through the day, with participants chanting slogans demanding accountability in education governance and reforms in examination systems. Many attendees described the movement as a youth-driven push for transparency and fairness in competitive exams.

A number of supporters, including NGO worker Vijay Kumar from Jharkhand, travelled to Delhi specifically for the protest. He described the movement as significant and urged that it should remain a campaign rather than transform into a formal political party.

Inside the gathering, Dipke also reiterated that the movement must remain peaceful and constitutional. In earlier social media posts, he had urged participants to carry books and the national flag and to show respect toward police personnel by offering flowers as a symbolic gesture of peace and gratitude.

As the protest unfolded under tight security and intense public attention, it marked a defining moment for the CJP—a digital movement attempting to transition into a physical, mass-based mobilisation.

With thousands of young participants, heavy police deployment, and national attention focused on Jantar Mantar, the demonstration underscored both the growing influence of online activism and the rising tensions surrounding education-related grievances in the country.