'Dharmendra Pradhan Istifa Do': CJP's Dipke, Sonam Wangchuk Join Youth to Demand Education Minister's Resignation
New Delhi: Thousands gathered at Jantar Mantar in Delhi on Saturday (June 6) as the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), which began as a satirical online movement and rapidly drew the Gen-Z to a political phenomenon, readied its 22 million Instagram followers for the first offline protest, demanding the resignation of Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan, under whose stewardship recent CBSE and NEET examinations turned into fiascos. The protest is underway amid heavy security deployment.
Abhijeet Dipke, the founder, returned to India earlier today and said he was ‘looking forward to meeting all,’ as he landed.
Cockroach Janta Party's (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke, in white, spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka, left, and others raise slogans during a protest demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged examination-related lapses, at the Jantar Mantar, in New Delhi. Photo: PTI
Addressing the scores of protesters, comprised largely of students and young professionals, Dipke raised slogans saying, "The youth of the country will no longer fear, they will fight. Cockroaches don't even fear, they never die either."
देश का युवा अब डरेगा नहीं लड़ेगा
कॉकरोच डरते भी नहीं, कभी मरते भी नहीं #cjpprotest pic.twitter.com/BxUMDJv6Sl
— Cockroach is Back (@Cockroachisback) June 6, 2026
“Let us tell them we will no longer be afraid of their politics of fear … Stop the politics of religion! Stop the politics of ‘Hindu-Muslim’!” Dipke told his audience, which responded with shouts of “band karo [stop it]”.
“It has been a month since we started demanding Pradhan’s resignation on social media, but these individuals are so shameless that instead of taking action, they have been focused on other distractions, like hacking our accounts and getting our posts deleted,” Dipke said per PTI.
The Modi government has sought to curb the CJP's burgeoning online reach – the outfit claims close to 13 million more followers than the BJP on Instagram – including by having its X account withheld in India. Dipke has alleged that attempts were made to hack his accounts, while officials of the ruling party have also falsely claimed that a majority of the CJP's followers are from Pakistan or elsewhere outside India.
The crowd at Jantar Mantar is growing by the hour. Protesters at Jantar Mantar raised slogans of “Godi Media Hay Hay”, expressing criticism of sections of the mainstream media and voicing concerns over press freedom and media independence during the CJP demonstration.
#JustNow | Protesters at Jantar Mantar raised slogans of “Godi Media Hay Hay,” expressing criticism of sections of the mainstream media and voicing concerns over press freedom and media independence during the CJP demonstration. pic.twitter.com/tejpAxrqWN
— The Wire (@thewire_in) June 6, 2026
Education reformer and climate activist Sonam Wangchuk also joined the protest in the afternoon. He had earlier announced that he would also join the protest if education minister does not step down by June 5.
Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk joins protest demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi, on June 6, 2025. Photo: PTI/Karma Bhutia
This morning, the Delhi Police granted Dipke permission for the demonstration at Jantar Mantar till 5 pm after officials met him at the airport. Crowds had initially gathered at the Parliament Street Police Station.
Cockroach Janta Party's (CJP) supporters turn up carrying banners at the Jantar Mantar protest, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged examination-related lapses, in New Delhi, Saturday, June 6, 2026. Photo: PTI
"With the full backing of the Constitution of India, cockroaches will begin our protest at Jantar Mantar demanding Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation starting at 10 am. Abhijeet Dipke is on his way to Jantar Mantar," the CJP posted.
With the full backing of the Constitution of India, cockroaches will begin our protest at Jantar Mantar demanding Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation starting at 10 am.@abhijeet_dipke is on his way to Jantar Mantar. pic.twitter.com/bydPva07dl
— Cockroach is Back (@Cockroachisback) June 6, 2026
Earlier today, Dipke stepped out of the airport with a copy of B.R. Ambedkar's My Autobiography.
Abhijit Dipke left from Airport and going straight to Jantar Mantar. @thewire_in pic.twitter.com/6sFdzQjLYi
— vipul | विपुल (@vipul_reports) June 6, 2026
A Cockroach Janta Party's (CJP) supporter holds a placard during a protest demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged examination-related lapses, at the Jantar Mantar, in New Delhi, Saturday, June 6. Photo: PTI/Arun Sharma
The CJP is only 21 days old, having been founded on May 16. What began as a digital movement quickly grew bigger as student anger around education and institutional accountability, marked by fatigue, cynicism and endless polarisation, turned into a demand to reclaim public questions.
This article went live on June sixth, two thousand twenty six, at fifty-eight minutes past nine in the morning.The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments.
