The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) reiterated its demand for the removal of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan during government talks on June 26, 2026 [1].
This demand serves as a central pillar of the ongoing NEET protest movement, which seeks systemic education reforms in India. Protesters hold the minister responsible for the current state of the examination system and argue that his dismissal is necessary for meaningful change [1, 2].
Ashutosh Ranka, a spokesperson for the CJP, said that the call to sack the minister remains a primary objective of the movement [1]. The party has maintained this position as part of its effort to pressure the government into addressing grievances surrounding the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test [2].
Founder of the CJP, Abhijeet Dipke, also aligned with these demands. The timing of the party's messaging coincided with Pradhan's birthday, which falls on June 26 [2].
The protests have centered on the need for broader reforms to the medical entrance process. The CJP and other protesters argue that the current administration has failed to provide a transparent, and fair system for students [1, 2].
Government representatives have engaged in talks with the group, but the CJP continues to push for the minister's exit as a prerequisite for resolution [1]. The movement maintains that personnel changes at the top of the education ministry are required to break the deadlock and implement the necessary structural overhauls [2].
“The removal of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan remains a key demand of the NEET protest.”
The persistence of the CJP's demand indicates that the NEET protests have evolved from a policy dispute into a political confrontation. By targeting the Education Minister specifically, the movement is signaling that it views the current leadership as an obstacle to reform, suggesting that a simple policy tweak may no longer be sufficient to appease the protesters.
