Abhijeet Dipke leads Cockroach Janta Party supporters in a continued sit-in protest in New Delhi following a heavy police crackdown.
Supporters of the Cockroach Janta Party, led by Abhijeet Dipke, have remained at the Jantar Mantar protest site in New Delhi despite a significant police crackdown on Monday. The youth-led movement, which emerged as a satirical response to the Chief Justice's description of unemployed youth as "cockroaches," is demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan due to alleged failures in the national examination system. The administration faced criticism after police used tear gas and batons to disperse thousands of protesters attempting to march toward Parliament. While the administration noted that the police were responding to "unruly, aggressive and violent behaviour," many rioters accused the authorities of suppressing peaceful dissent. Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi joined the protest, describing the current government as "anti-youth." Despite a brief meeting with Health Minister JP Nadda, the movement remains firm. The administration announced that the meeting was cordial, but movement leaders expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of concrete assurances. Protesters continue to demand examination reforms and compensation for students who died by suicide following exam irregularities.