On June 20, the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) staged its second protest in Delhi, following a series of demonstrations across India, including in Pune, Jaipur, Lucknow and Bengaluru.
Compared with its first on-ground protest earlier this month, the demonstration was more organised and, according to many observers, drew a larger turnout of protesters.
The stage, set against a flex banner bearing the words “Peaceful Protest”, was occupied by CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke, party functionaries, and “cockroach marshals”.
Several student organisations were also present, including the Students’ Federation of India (SFI), the All India Students’ Association (AISA), the Krantikari Yuva Sangathan (KYS), and Collective.
On the same day, Dipke announced that the CJP would launch an indefinite sit-in until the Union Education Minister, Dharmendra Pradhan, resigns, and compensation of Rs. 1 crore is awarded to the family of every student who died by suicide due to the NEET leak and re-examination.
As night fell, most protesters dispersed, leaving only a few hundred people at Jantar Mantar, the majority of whom were affiliated with Left organisations.
Their principal concern was the prospect of police action: the Delhi Police could be heard every 15–20 minutes urging protesters to vacate the premises.
