Jantar Mantar: What is the Gen Z CJP protest in Delhi about? - BBC

What the report says

BBC News reports that tens of thousands of mostly young demonstrators gathered in Delhi in recent days under the banner of the Cockroach Janta Party, or CJP, a youth-led movement demanding changes to India’s education system and the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The group announced a march to parliament for 20 July, and related protests and vigils were also reported in Mumbai, Bengaluru and Goa.

According to the BBC, the CJP began as a satirical online platform led by Abhijeet Dipke, a 30-year-old political communications strategist, but grew rapidly after large numbers signed up through an online form. Its name refers to remarks allegedly made in May by Chief Justice Surya Kant about unemployed young people moving toward journalism and activism; he later clarified that he was referring to people with fake degrees, not youth generally. The name also parodies Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party.

The movement’s main focus is anger over India’s medical entrance test, NEET, after this year’s exam was cancelled following allegations of a paper leak; the BBC says a government inquiry later confirmed the leak. The CJP is calling for a broader overhaul of education governance and more accountability over exam irregularities. The protest gained further attention after engineer and activist Sonam Wangchuk, who had been fasting in support of the movement at Jantar Mantar, was taken to hospital by force; he has continued fasting there, the BBC reported.

Police used batons and tear gas after protesters tried to push through barricades, injuring demonstrators and officers, according to the report. Opposition Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, later protested near Modi’s residence and were detained briefly. Pradhan accused Congress of exploiting students politically and said the government remained committed to addressing student concerns.