The Cockroach Janta Party continued a major protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on Sunday despite police orders to vacate the area [1].
This demonstration signals growing unrest among students and activists regarding the administration of the NEET-UG examination and broader national education policies. The movement seeks to hold high-ranking officials accountable for systemic failures in the medical entrance process.
Founder Abhijeet Dipke led the gathering, which organizers said saw a better turnout than the previous protest [2]. Hundreds of supporters gathered at the site to demand the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan [3, 5]. Dipke said, "We will continue our protest on Sunday despite police orders" [1].
Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk has added pressure to the situation by linking her own activism to the fate of the protesters. Wangchuk said she would initiate a fast if the authorities move to arrest the group.
Wangchuk said, "If they are arrested, I will begin a 42-day hunger strike" [3]. Other reports described the potential fast as lasting six weeks [3].
Throughout the day, Dipke said police should refrain from stopping people from joining the cause. He also used the platform to wish NEET-UG aspirants luck in their academic pursuits [2]. The protest remains a continuation of a larger campaign targeting the education ministry's handling of competitive exams, and student grievances.
“"If they are arrested, I will begin a 42-day hunger strike."”
The involvement of a high-profile activist like Sonam Wangchuk elevates a niche political protest into a broader human rights and governance issue. By threatening a 42-day hunger strike, Wangchuk increases the political cost for the government if police use force against the Cockroach Janta Party, potentially forcing the administration to address the NEET-UG grievances to avoid a larger public health or political crisis.
