The Cockroach Janta Party’s first in-person protest, demanding Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation, attracted a crowd of over 1,500 people in Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on Saturday (June 6, 2026). The protest was joined by Ladakh activist Sonam Wangchuk, as protesters raised slogans against the Union government and sought accountability, amid the cancellation of the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test-Undergraduate (NEET-UG) and the issues with the CBSE Class 12 board examinations.
Cockroach Janta Party protest LIVE updates
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke arrived at Jantar Mantar in the morning, hours after landing in New Delhi following a day-long journey from Boston in the U.S. Speaking to presspersons gathered at the airport upon his arrival, Mr. Dipke said “the Education Minister has to resign”, adding, “Five students have committed suicide.” At Jantar Mantar, he led chants seeking Mr. Pradhan’s resignation.
Hundreds gathered in the first hour of the protest. Many protesters were seen wearing cockroach masks, which were being distributed at the venue. The crowd comprised a large number of youngsters. Some counter-protesters too raised slogans at the venue and a few such persons were detained by the police.
Mr. Wangchuk, who spent nearly six months incarcerated under the National Security Act until March this year, said after joining the protest: “We are not here to protest but to appeal that government should be accountable.”
Heavy security arrangements were made at the spot, with police and paramilitary personnel deployed in large numbers. Police photographers too were spread out across the site and at least one drone captured visuals of the crowd.
Earlier, Mr. Dipke had announced that he would no longer need to personally seek police permissions for the demonstration, as representatives had already received police approval.
Six people were detained by the Delhi Police on Saturday (June 6) to prevent a possible confrontation between two groups. The detentions were made as a precautionary measure to maintain law and order after police received inputs about the possibility of tensions between supporters and opposers of the online movement, they said.
Heavy security arrangements were made at the spot, with police and paramilitary personnel deployed in large numbers. Police photographers too were spread out across the site and at least one drone captured visuals of the crowd.
Earlier, Mr. Dipke had announced that he would no longer need to personally seek police permissions for the demonstration, as representatives had already received police approval.
Protesters emptied out the venue within an hour of the allowed time limit of 5 p.m., and Mr. Dipke insisted in a statement on X that the day’s demonstrations were merely a “trailer”, and that they would return next Saturday. For now, he said, he would go meet his parents, whom he had not seen in over a year.
(With inputs by Vijaita Singh)
Published - June 06, 2026 09:21 am IST
