Abhijeet Dipke, founder of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), said that only the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan is acceptable [1].
The demand comes as the CJP seeks accountability for the alleged mishandling of education reforms and the NEET paper-leak controversy [1, 5]. The pressure on the government has intensified following a 26-day [1] hunger strike by activist Sonam Wangchuk.
Dipke said to reporters on Friday, July 24, ahead of a scheduled meeting with government representatives at a neutral venue in Delhi, reported as the Constitution Club [2, 3]. Despite the talks, Dipke said the demonstration at Jantar Mantar will persist until the minister leaves office [2].
"Nothing short of Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation is acceptable," Dipke said [2].
The CJP leader said the current unrest is a nationwide campaign that has grown beyond a local demonstration [3]. He said that the movement would not be deterred by the upcoming discussions with the center [1].
"The protest will continue because this movement has grown into a nationwide campaign and the protest at Jantar Mantar will continue until Dharmendra Pradhan steps down," Dipke said [3].
While the government has attempted to resolve the issue through dialogue, the atmosphere remains tense. Dipke said that the situation could escalate, citing reports that members of the CJP team could be arrested tonight [4].
“"Nothing short of Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation is acceptable,"”
The CJP's refusal to compromise during official negotiations signals a shift from seeking policy adjustments to demanding political casualties. By linking their demands to the broader momentum of Sonam Wangchuk's hunger strike and the NEET controversy, the party is attempting to leverage public frustration into a forced cabinet change, raising the stakes for the government's upcoming talks.
