‘Cockroach Party’ March Draws Crowds to Jantar Mantar, Wangchuk Voices Solidarity

Students, Parents Join ‘Cockroach Janta Party’ Rally at Jantar Mantar; Wangchuk Backs Protest

Hundreds of students, parents and young professionals gathered at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar on Saturday as the ‘Cockroach Janta Party’ (CJP) held its first major on-ground protest, turning a social media movement into a street campaign over alleged irregularities in examinations and recruitment tests.

Wearing cockroach masks and carrying books, flowers and the national flag, protesters assembled in the heart of the capital amid heavy security deployment. The demonstration drew participants from several states and centred on demands for greater transparency in examinations, accountability from authorities and the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

The protest comes after weeks of online mobilisation around alleged irregularities in examinations such as NEET, CUET, CBSE assessments and SSC recruitment processes.

Online Campaign Hits the Streets

The rally marked a significant moment for the movement founded by social media influencer Abhijeet Dipke, which began as a satirical online campaign before evolving into a broader platform highlighting issues faced by students and job aspirants.

Originally triggered by remarks attributed to Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, the campaign quickly expanded beyond social media, focusing on examination management, recruitment delays, unemployment and government accountability.

Saturday’s gathering was the movement’s first major attempt to convert its digital following into a visible public mobilisation.

Arriving in Delhi ahead of the event, Dipke reiterated his demand for Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation and accused authorities of failing to address concerns raised by students.

Addressing supporters at Jantar Mantar, he alleged that efforts had been made to suppress the movement online through account restrictions and content removals rather than engaging with the issues being raised.

He told supporters that while social media posts could be deleted, public voices could not be erased, and described the campaign as a long-term struggle for students and young people.

Flowers for Police, Books in Hand

One of the defining features of the protest was its symbolism.

Many participants wore the movement’s signature cockroach masks, while others carried books and copies of the Constitution. Following an appeal from organisers, several protesters offered flowers to police personnel stationed at the venue as a gesture of peaceful engagement.

The crowd included school students accompanied by parents, university students and young professionals, many of whom carried placards demanding fairness and transparency in examinations and recruitment procedures.

Slogans calling for accountability and reform echoed throughout the protest site.

Sonam Wangchuk Extends Support

Activist Sonam Wangchuk backed the protest and appealed to participants to maintain peace and cooperate with authorities.

Dipke thanked Wangchuk during his address and told supporters that the activist would be joining the gathering. Wangchuk had earlier announced that he would undertake a six-week fast if action was taken against the movement’s founder.

Massive Security Cover

Authorities put extensive security arrangements in place ahead of the demonstration.

More than 1,000 police personnel were deployed across New Delhi and other sensitive locations. Additional security measures were implemented at the airport, major transit hubs and border entry points into the city.

According to sources, around 40 companies of paramilitary personnel were also deployed to assist Delhi Police. Multiple layers of barricading were erected around Jantar Mantar, while senior officers remained on the ground to monitor the situation.

Security was also heightened outside the residence of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan as a precautionary measure.

Political Support Emerges

The movement has also begun attracting support from political leaders. NCP (SP) leader Rohit Pawar said the turnout reflected growing frustration among young people over examination controversies and policies affecting students and job seekers.

As the protest continued through the day, organisers repeatedly urged participants to maintain discipline and ensure the demonstration remained peaceful.

While it remains to be seen whether the campaign can translate public mobilisation into political pressure, Saturday’s turnout demonstrated that a movement born on social media has evolved into a visible and organised street protest capable of drawing significant crowds to the national capital.