Cockroach Janta Party Resumes Protests at Jantar Mantar Over NEET UG Crisis

The scene at Jantar Mantar has shifted from a site of police clearance to a reclaimed hub of Gen Z dissent. After the chaos of Monday’s “Chalo Sansad” march, thousands of protesters returned to the site. While the turnout was lower than the massive gathering on July 20, the crowd remained resolute, utilizing pop culture satire and movie references on placards to voice their political frustrations.

The “Cockroach” Movement and the NEET UG Crisis

The CJP is an organic movement against paper leaks and alleged irregularities in the examination system that started with a comment from Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, referring to youngsters as “cockroaches”. The group has been sitting at Jantar Mantar since June 20. The movement gained significant momentum when activist Sonam Wangchuk and a group of students from the Left-affiliated AISA joined the hunger strike.

The core of the grievance centers on the NEET UG examination. CJP representatives met with Union Health and Family Welfare Minister JP Nadda to reiterate their demand for Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation. While CJP spokesperson Saurav Das noted that Nadda assured them their demands would be considered, Das emphasized that the government has not made any commitments.

Violence at “Chalo Sansad” and Police Response

The tension peaked during the “Chalo Sansad” march, which resulted in violent clashes between agitators and security forces. The fallout was severe: more than 100 personnel from the Delhi Police and paramilitary forces were injured, with some sustaining fractures. Police also reported damage to 15 to 20 police vehicles.

• Detentions: Around 70 people were detained; police clarified these individuals are not students and are undergoing background verification.
• Legal Action: An FIR was registered at the Connaught Place Police Station under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) regarding the vandalism and violence.
• Security Ramps: Delhi Police increased personnel on routes leading toward Parliament to prevent another march.

A Deadlock in Negotiations

The government is attempting to move the conflict from the streets to the negotiating table, but the CJP is resisting the venue.

The CJP has rejected these terms. Spokesperson Saurav Das stated that the group will not visit any government office or private residence, insisting that officials must come to Jantar Mantar or a neutral location. This stance was echoed by Abhijit Dipke, who declared there would be no further talks unless the government representatives came to the protest site.

Community Support and Urban Disruption

The protest has evolved into a community-supported encampment. Residents and anonymous donors have sustained the crowd with Zomato orders and traditional langars featuring chhole kulche and makhni daal-naan. One 57-year-old Prabal Kumar reported bringing a full suitcase of juice tetra packs to support the students, despite rigorous security checks.

However, the scale of the demonstration has caused significant urban friction. 17 Delhi Metro stations remained closed for two consecutive days, with the Jhandewala station also being shut down. This forced hundreds of commuters to seek longer, more expensive alternative routes.

The movement has also attracted high-profile attention. Actress Alia Bhatt expressed support for the students on Instagram, questioning if the country is truly listening to the youth who represent its future. Meanwhile, Gitanjali, the wife of Sonam Wangchuk—who has been on a hunger strike for 26 days—argued that children should not be treated like criminals.

The CJP continues its 32nd day of protest, with volunteers managing waste in garbage bags and thousands of students remaining entrenched at Jantar Mantar, waiting for the government to either concede to the resignation demands or physically show up at the protest site.