Pune- In a powerful show of student solidarity, the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) drew a massive crowd to the streets of Pune on Thursday, with organisers claiming a larger turnout than the high-profile Jantar Mantar protest held in Delhi on June 6. The event, addressed by CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke, who recently returned from the United States, saw the participation of prominent education activist Sonam Wangchuk and hundreds of students, parents, and concerned citizens. The protest highlighted widespread frustration over repeated examination irregularities and demanded sweeping reforms in the country’s education and examination system.

Addressing the enthusiastic gathering, Abhijeet Dipke urged students to reject divisive politics and focus on pressing national issues. “For the last ten to twelve years, only Hindu-Muslim politics has been going on in the country,” he said, warning that such divisions have distracted citizens from critical concerns like employment, education, and the cost of living. Dipke called upon the audience to commit to moving beyond religious polarisation, emphasising that while the world advances in AI, semiconductors, and clean energy, India risks being left behind due to “backward politics.” He asked students to raise their hands in a collective pledge against engaging in Hindu-Muslim politics in the future.

The Pune protest gained added significance with the presence of Sonam Wangchuk, widely respected for his work on education, particularly in Ladakh. Dipke praised Wangchuk, stating that a figure like him “should be serving as Education Minister, not being treated like a criminal.” The event also paid tribute to Rohith Vemula, observing a two-minute silence on the tenth anniversary of his suicide, underscoring the human cost of systemic failures in education.

Five-point charter of demands for exam reforms

In a major announcement, CJP laid out a comprehensive five-point charter of demands for exam reforms, addressing the hardships faced by millions of students due to paper leaks, delays, and technical glitches. Dipke detailed the demands as follows:

1. Paper Leak Hardship Compensation: If an exam is cancelled, leaked, or delayed at the last minute, the government should compensate each affected student with ₹10,000 to cover travel, accommodation, coaching, study materials, and mental stress. For results delayed beyond one month, an additional ₹10,000 per month should be provided.

2. Mandatory 72-Hour Backup Re-Exam: Every major examination must have a pre-planned backup date and contingency plan. A re-exam should be conducted within 72 hours of any disruption, preventing prolonged uncertainty for students.

3. Paper Checking for Paper Exams: Exams conducted on paper should continue to be evaluated manually until digital infrastructure is uniformly reliable across the country, to avoid doubts about fairness and technological disparities.

4. Automatic Age-Limit Extensions: Age limits for competitive exams and job opportunities must be automatically extended by the duration of any postponement or delay caused by administrative failures.

5. Mandatory Independent Tech Audits: All computer-based exams require independent third-party audits of hardware, software, internet, and infrastructure at least seven days prior. Failed centres must be replaced immediately.

Additionally, every exam should feature a unique QR code providing transparency on technology vendors, audit certifications, and compliance details. Dipke criticised the alleged handing over of exam tenders to “friends and family of elected ministers.”

Dipke framed the movement as a fight for accountability, citing the scale of the crisis: over 22 lakh students affected by NEET issues, 17 lakh in CBSE, 16 lakh in CUET, and 40 lakh in SSC GD, totaling more than one crore students. “What matters more to you- the future of one crore students or the position of one incompetent minister?” he asked, demanding the resignation of the Education Minister by Saturday. He warned that failure to act would lead to a major mobilisation in Delhi on June 20, with Pune standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the national capital.

Reflecting on his personal journey, Dipke recounted returning from America despite warnings from his mother and the threat of arrest. He credited the strength of the movement and supporters for his ability to continue. “Don’t stop your children from speaking,” he appealed to parents. “If someone has to go to jail, I will go.” He also criticised the suspension of a teacher who supported the Jantar Mantar protest, contrasting it with the lack of accountability for those responsible for examination failures.

The founder described the “Cockroach Janta Party” as a symbol of young India’s frustration with a rotten system. “The cockroach is a message that the young people in this country are tired of your politics,” he said. He rejected allegations of foreign funding or “Deep State” involvement, questioning how the government could label its own students and citizens as “Pakistanis” for raising valid concerns.

Sonam Wangchuk, delivering an inspiring address, brought greetings from the people, mountains, rivers, glaciers, animals, and birds of Ladakh. Invoking the principle of Tamso Ma Jyotir Gamaya, leading from darkness to light, he emphasised that education and environment must be at the centre of national priorities, guided by truth, non-violence, and justice. Congratulating the youth movement led by Abhijeet Dipke, Wangchuk saluted Pune as the land of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Savitribai and Jyotirao Phule, Shahu Maharaj, and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.

He criticised the exam-centric education system plagued by failures, called for fixing accountability, and praised the awakening of young people across cities like Delhi, Pune, Lucknow, and Amritsar as the true strength of democracy. Wangchuk stressed the need for media freedom and truth, noting India’s declining global press freedom rankings, and highlighted how the movement’s commitment to non-violence had enabled peaceful progress, urging citizens to choose the “flowers of non-violence” over violence while keeping justice as the ultimate destination.