Youths’ Dissent at Jantar Mantar Gains Cross-Generational Support as Cockroach Janata Party Begins Peaceful Dharna

New Delhi- Thousands of protesters, including a significant number of senior citizens, gathered at Jantar Mantar today as the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), led by Abhijeet Dipke, launched a day-long dharna demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged examination irregularities.

Delhi Police had granted permission for the protest from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM earlier today (Letter No. 88321/ND(X) dated 06/06/2026). Heavy security deployment, including paramilitary forces, was visible across central Delhi, with barricades and personnel positioned around the protest site.

What began as a “youths’ dissent” movement has quickly garnered support from senior citizens. Many elderly people were seen holding placards and participating enthusiastically in the peaceful demonstration. Slogans like “Save Education, Save Future” and “Accountability for Exam Scams” echoed at the venue, with older participants joining younger students and activists.

"Resign Dharmendra Pradhan.. Resign Modi" slogans echoed throughout the protest. Eyewitnesses and live visuals from the ground show elderly protesters in traditional attire holding handwritten placards criticizing the education system and demanding systemic reforms. Their presence has added emotional weight to the protest, with many stating they are worried about the future of their grandchildren.

Abhijeet Dipke, who flew in from Boston in the morning wrote in a social media post:

“Looking forward to meet all at Jantar Mantar. We have to lead this movement with love and peace!”

The CJP founder reiterated that the protest is entirely peaceful and aims to highlight lapses in the examination process.

Education reformer Sonam Wangchuk had earlier extended conditional support, saying he would join if Minister Pradhan did not resign by June 5.

Multiple citizen journalists and attendees shared videos of senior citizens chanting slogans and interacting with youth protesters. Student Leader & Former DUSU President Ronak Khatri too extended his support to the Cockroach Movement.

Hashtags #JantarMantarProtest, #CockroachJanataParty, and #EducationReform are trending on X, with several videos showing the diverse age groups present. Independent journalist handles reported “the atmosphere remains peaceful with police maintaining a watch from a distance.”

No untoward incidents have been reported so far. The protest has drawn attention to long-standing concerns over the conduct of competitive examinations in India. Organizers claim this is just the beginning of a larger movement for educational accountability.

The dharna will continue till 5:00 PM. Further updates on the turnout, possible government response, and any new developments will be monitored closely.