Protesters from the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) are holding a sit-in at Jantar Mantar demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan [1].
The demonstrations center on alleged leaks of the NEET-UG 2026 examination paper. Because the exam determines entry into medical schools, the scandal has sparked nationwide concerns regarding academic integrity, and the future of thousands of students [3].
Heavy police security has been deployed to Jantar Mantar to manage the crowds. The tension escalated recently when separate violence broke out at Connaught Place, where a Delhi Police officer was injured [1, 2]. Authorities have since filed six FIRs against protesters [2].
Sonam Wangchuk is leading the protest, which has now lasted for more than a month [4]. While some reports indicate the primary goal is the resignation of Minister Pradhan, other accounts state the protesters are seeking broader accountability for the leak [1, 3].
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the situation on Wednesday. "Those who try to harm the future of our youth will not be spared," Modi said [5].
Government officials have indicated a willingness to resolve the standoff. JP Nadda said the government is ready for talks with the CJP [6].
Despite the offer of dialogue, the CJP continues to maintain its presence at the site. A reporter from TimesNow said the protest is about accountability for the NEET paper leak [7].
“"Those who try to harm the future of our youth will not be spared."”
The persistence of the CJP sit-in suggests a significant breakdown in trust between the student community and the education ministry. By framing the NEET-UG 2026 leak as a systemic failure, the protesters are attempting to turn a technical examination error into a political mandate for leadership change within the ministry.
