Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) chief Abhijeet Dipke on Friday called for a nationwide "jail bharo" movement and claimed that police were not responding to his requests for permission to extend the protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar, where demonstrators have been demanding Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation.
"Those who are seeing this video, start a jail bharo andolan in your cities," Dipke said in a video posted on X.
Dipke also claimed that police were not answering his calls as he sought permission to extend the protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar.
This marks CJP's second round of protests in Delhi over alleged examination irregularities and recurring paper leaks. The group's first demonstration was held on June 6 , followed by protests in several cities across India.
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Dipke on protest extension
Dipke said, "I request the authorities... since youth from all over the country is here. They want to sit here till we get justice. (I) request Delhi Police to extend our permission. The protest has been peaceful; we are just innocent students who want to sit here."
The youth leader said channels of communication remained open, but stressed that the "only condition is that Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan should resign".
{{/usCountry}}The youth leader said channels of communication remained open, but stressed that the "only condition is that Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan should resign".
{{/usCountry}}He also appealed to Delhi Police to "open a dialogue with the Centre" and asserted, "If there are arrests, I will be the first to court arrest."
Dipke's request
Dipke urged supporters to assemble at Jantar Mantar at 6 pm, expressing confidence that police would grant permission for the protest to continue.
He also urged Delhi Police to "open a dialogue with the Centre" and asserted, "If there are arrests, I will be the first to court arrest."
The protest began earlier in the day amid heavy police deployment, with students raising slogans and holding placards demanding answers from the government over alleged failures to ensure transparent examinations and safeguard the interests of aspirants.
Responding to Dipke's call to bring "thali and chammach" (plates and spoons), supporters used them as symbols of protest, banging them throughout the demonstration.
Chants of "Dharmendra Pradhan must resign" were heard across the venue as protesters renewed their demand for accountability over issues surrounding examination management.