2026 Delhi Jantar Mantar protests
Ongoing protests led by the Cockroach Janta Party in New Delhi
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Since 6 June 2026, the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), an Indian youth-based satirical political movement founded by Abhijeet Dipke, has been holding a series of protests at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi along with student organisations like Students Federation of India, All India Students Association and All India Students Federation.[1][2] The protesters have demanded the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the 2026 NEET paper leak and the CBSE On-Screen Marking irregularities, along with broader reforms in the conduct of public examinations.[3] The agitation drew national attention after the activist Sonam Wangchuk began an indefinite hunger strike at the protest site on 28 June.[4]
- Resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan
- Reforms in the examination system
| 2026 Delhi Jantar Mantar protest | |||
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From left to right, top to bottom
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| Date | 6 June 2026 – present | ||
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| Methods | Demonstrations, sit-ins, hunger strikes | ||
| Result | Ongoing | ||
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The initial social media movement known as Cockroach Janta Party was created in May 2026 by the social media manager Abhijeet Dipke as a political satire. The name itself was chosen due to one of the CJI, Surya Kant’s, statements regarding some of the unemployed youths and social media activists. He compared them to the pests invading his home, hence, cockroaches and parasites.[5] Later, having regained online popularity, the new party decided to turn their online operation into an offline protest, which was allowed by Delhi Police.
The dynamic of the protest significantly changed on 28 June 2026 when the famous Ladakhi environmentalist and educationist activist Sonam Wangchuk was invited to Jantar Mantar.[6] The moment he arrived, he initiated an indefinite hunger strike, due to which the rally attracted bigger crowds and more diverse groups of people, including senior citizens and social organisations. Consequently, the call for an action on a larger scale, including a march to Parliament, emerged.
Since then, the rally has created serious political and administrative disturbances. In the middle of July 2026, when the Delhi Police got a new leader, the force was ordered to lift the barricades in the morning and take the fasting Wangchuk to the hospital.[7] This action, alongside the ink throwing by the activist Dipke, resulted in increased media attention to the rally and the problem of jobless youths and students altogether.[8][9]
Background
Formation of the Cockroach Janta Party
In May 2026, Chief Justice of India Surya Kant drew criticism for remarks made during a Supreme Court hearing in which he compared certain social media users and activists to "cockroaches" and "parasites".[10][11]
There are already parasites of society who attack the system, and you want to join hands with them? There are youngsters like cockroaches; they don't get any employment, and they don't have any place in a profession. Some of them become media, some of them become social media, some of them become RTI activists, some of them become other activists, and they start attacking everyone… And you people file contempt petitions.[12]
Justice Kant subsequently stated that his remarks had been misquoted and that his criticism was directed at individuals who had entered the legal, media, and activist professions using fraudulent academic credentials.[13][14] Despite the clarification, the remarks attracted widespread public criticism. On 16 May 2026, Abhijeet Dipke, a digital communications strategist, responded by founding the Cockroach Janta Party, a satirical movement that adopted the insult as its name.[5] The movement gained a large following on social media within days of its founding.[5]
Examination controversies
The protests followed two examination-related controversies in 2026: an alleged question paper leak affecting the NEET-UG medical entrance examination, and irregularities in the Central Board of Secondary Education's On-Screen Marking and revaluation process, which left thousands of students awaiting clarity on their final results.[15]
Protests
The CJP held its first street protest at Jantar Mantar on 6 June 2026. Delhi Police deployed around 1,000 personnel in the New Delhi district and strengthened security at several locations, including Indira Gandhi International Airport, ahead of the protest.[16][17] Police granted permission for the demonstration until 5 p.m. as what they described as a one-time exception.[15] Organisers asked participants to protest peacefully and encouraged them to bring the national flag and a book, which they said symbolised the right to education and equal opportunity.[18] Dipke, who arrived in Delhi from the United States shortly before the protest, was joined at the site by the activist Sonam Wangchuk.[15] Hundreds of protesters gathered and demanded Pradhan's resignation over the alleged irregularities in examinations and recruitment tests. The CJP announced that it would launch a nationwide agitation if Pradhan did not resign within seven days.[19]
On 11 June 2026, the CJP launched a nationwide campaign seeking reforms in the education system, beginning at Savitribai Phule Pune University in Pune. Dipke released what he called an exam manifesto containing five demands, including compensation of ₹10,000 for students affected by a paper leak, postponement of an examination, or delay in the declaration of results. He said the movement would travel to cities including Jaipur, Lucknow, Amritsar, and Bengaluru before returning to Jantar Mantar on 20 June 2026.[20][2]
The CJP held its second protest at Jantar Mantar on 20 June 2026. A large number of students gathered, holding placards seeking accountability from the government over alleged failures to ensure transparent examinations, and banged plates and spoons as a symbol of protest.[21] According to Delhi Police, the protest, which began at 1 p.m., had permission only until 5 p.m. Dipke refused to end the demonstration, saying he would not leave Jantar Mantar until Pradhan resigned, and urged supporters to join the protest that evening. At the protest, Wangchuk announced that he would begin an indefinite hunger strike from 27 June if Pradhan did not resign.[22]
Chalo Sansad march
On 20 July, the first day of the monsoon session of the Parliament of India, CJP launched its 'Chalo Sansad' march. CJP asked the protesters to bring the national flag and a copy of the constitution or photographs of B. R. Ambedkar, Mahatma Gandhi or Bhagat Singh. It also urged them to avoid political or organisational flags and to protest peacefully.[23]
Delhi Police tightened security across New Delhi district before the march and imposed prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). A day before the march, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Sachin Sharma shared a public advisory on X which stated that Delhi Police had not granted permission for the march.[24] Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) closed five metro stations over security concerns ahead of CJP's march to the Parliament.[25] Security forces used tear gas and lathi charge against the protesters who were marching towards the Parliament. Internet was also shutdown in the vicinity of the Parliament.[26][27]
Timeline
June
- 6 June - Abhijeet Dipke arrives from the United States of America to India launching Cockroach Janta Party's first physical agitation.[28]
- 7–19 June - The movement transitions into periodic sit-ins, digital campaigns, and awareness drives across Delhi.[29]
- 20 June - Demonstrators regroup at Jantar Mantar for extended mobilisation.[30]
- 21 June - Dipke issues a public appeal for NEET aspirants to join the venue following re-examination.[31]
- 22–27 June - Protests gain widespread social media attention.[32]
- 28 June - Prominent Ladakhi environmentalist and engineer Sonam Wangchuk joins protests, declaring indefinite hunger strike alongside six students of All India Students' Federation (AISA) calling resignation of Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan.[33]
- 29 June - Cockroach Janta Party demands resignation of education minister and justice for recent suicide of students caused by paper leak.[34]
- 30 June - CJP launches nationwide 'Pradhan Go Back' campaign.[35]
July
- 1-17 July - CJP protests gain support from opposition parties,[36] garnering widespread support and sympathy, specially towards Sonam Wangchuk's hunger strike.[37][38]
- 18 July - Sonam Wangchuk is picked up by force,[39] leading to widespread condemnation across the opposition parties, leading to Rahul Gandhi breaking his silence on the Jantar Mantar protest.[40] [41]Abhijeet Dipke and others start indefinite hunger strike in protest of his removal.[42][43]
- 20 July - Thousands of protesters gathered at Jantar Mantar and attempted to march toward the Parliament of India.[44]
Hunger strikes
Hunger strike of Sonam Wangchuk and AISA leaders
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Sonam Wangchuk, an engineer and education reformer, became a prominent figure in the protests. On 28 June, he began an indefinite hunger strike at Jantar Mantar along with six students from the All India Students Association (AISA) including their National President Neha Bora and an independent student activist named Hamad[4]
By 17 July, the nineteenth day of the strike, Wangchuk had lost 9.1 kilograms of body weight. A doctor attending him said he had begun losing muscle mass, and video footage showed him unable to stand or walk unaided. Politicians and entertainers, including the signatories of a statement with more than 1,800 signatures, appealed to him to end the fast. A petition filed in the Delhi High Court asked the government to admit him to a hospital to prevent his death; the government told the court that it would intervene if his health deteriorated.[4]
On 18 July, Delhi Police removed Wangchuk from the protest site and admitted him to Safdarjung Hospital, attached to Vardhman Mahavir Medical College. Police stated that the action was taken on medical advice and in compliance with the directions of the Delhi High Court. Protest organisers criticised the police action, alleging that Wangchuk had been taken from the site forcibly and without prior notice.[6][45]
Dipke said the authorities had made "a big mistake by kidnapping Sonam Wangchuk" and warned that suppressing the protest would spark demonstrations across Delhi.[46]
Hunger strike of Abhijeet Dipke, SFI leader's Adarsh M. Saji and Aishe Ghosh and AISF activists
On 18 July, Dipke announced that he had begun an indefinite hunger strike. The announcement came after the office of the New Delhi deputy commissioner of police said Wangchuk had been shifted to hospital for essential medical care on the orders of the Delhi High Court and on expert medical advice. Dipke alleged that he had been beaten and detained by Delhi Police during what he described as a crackdown on protesters at Jantar Mantar while Wangchuk was being taken to hospital. He said a march planned for 20 July would proceed as scheduled.[42][43]
On the same day, Students Federation of India General Secretary Srijan Bhattacharyya announced that SFI President Adarsh M. Saji and SFI Joint Secretary Aishe Ghosh will join the indefinite hunger strike. Three AISA activists Neha Bora, Ameen Amitoj and Manish Kumar and independent student Hamad continued their strike on their 21st day and so on.[47]
Four activists of All India Students Federation Gulab Dan, Pratibha, Aniketh Madke and Bittu also joined the hunger strike.
Reactions
Opposition leaders expressed support for the protesters and for Wangchuk's hunger strike. Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav appealed to Wangchuk to end his fast, describing his life as "invaluable", while backing the demand for greater accountability in the education system.[48]
On 28 June, NCP (SP) national spokesperson Anish Gawande joined the protest at Jantar Mantar and reiterated the demand for Pradhan's resignation. Gawande claimed that several opposition parties, including the Trinamool Congress, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, and the NCP (SP), had extended support to the agitation.[49]
On 16 July, former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal joined the protest at Jantar Mantar, sought Pradhan's removal, and suggested that Wangchuk be made education minister.[50]
During his hunger strike, Wangchuk said the movement had "no political colour" and described its demands as an appeal for accountability and reform in the education system rather than merely the resignation of the education minister.[8]
The Union government and the Ministry of Education did not immediately issue a formal response to the demands of the protesters or to Wangchuk's hunger strike.[48]
Controversies
The handling of the protests by Delhi Police became a subject of dispute. Police stated that permission for the demonstration on 20 June 2026 had been granted only until 5 p.m., but organisers continued the sit-in beyond the permitted time, saying they would remain until their demands were addressed.[51]
The police response also attracted legal scrutiny. In July 2026, a public interest litigation was filed before the Delhi High Court alleging that Delhi Police had subjected protesters to continuous photography, videography, and surveillance, creating what the petition called an "atmosphere of intimidation" and infringing their rights to privacy and peaceful assembly. The matter was admitted for hearing.[9]
As the agitation continued, the participation of several opposition leaders led to debate over its political character, while organisers maintained that the movement remained independent and issue-based.[50]