CJP Turns Up Heat on Pradhan: Wangchuk Hunger Strike Threat, Nationwide Campaign From Today

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has sharply escalated its week long agitation against Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan , announcing a nationwide “Pradhan Go Back” campaign and calling for a massive convergence at Jantar Mantar on June 28. The announcement came on Pradhan’s birthday, a timing CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke highlighted strongly, as party spokespersons Saurav Das, Vijeta Dahiya, and Ashutosh Ranka reached the Education Ministry at Kartavya Bhawan with a cake but were denied entry.

Dipke, addressing a press conference, said Ladakh based climate and social activist Sonam Wangchuk would join the protest on Sunday and begin an indefinite hunger strike. Wangchuk had earlier set June 27 as a deadline for the government to respond to public grievances, warning that silence would force him to fast. His presence has added moral weight to the agitation, though it has also drawn criticism from BJP supporters who allege Dipke is acting as a proxy for opposition forces.

The CJP, originally a digital satirical outfit named after Chief Justice Surya Kant’s controversial description of government critics as “cockroaches,” has built a large online following, especially among young Indians. The group has been staging a sit in at Jantar Mantar since June 20, demanding Pradhan’s resignation over alleged irregularities in competitive examinations and the NEET paper leak controversy. At least 20 students have reportedly died by suicide in the aftermath, and Dipke has demanded compensation of Rs 1 crore for each affected family.

Dipke said it has been a week and Dharmendra Pradhan has not taken responsibility for the paper leaks, directly addressing Prime Minister Narendra Modi and warning that inaction would make the Prime Minister “directly responsible for student deaths” and “incompetent.” He also called on students, parents, teachers, farmer unions, and civil society groups to join Sunday’s demonstration.

In a further allegation, Dipke claimed protesters and volunteers at the site were attacked by unidentified individuals, with one volunteer suffering a serious head injury. Spokesperson Das said police failed to apply appropriate charges against the accused. Dipke alleged police inaction and suggested the attacks were pre planned, demanding attempt to murder charges against those responsible.

As the movement continues, questions remain over its longevity. Past protests at Jantar Mantar, including the anti CAA agitation and farmers’ movement, drew massive crowds but eventually lost momentum without significantly impacting the ruling party’s electoral position.

Ahead of Sunday’s mobilisation, Das inducted four new spokespersons, Vaishnavi Gaur, Aafreen Nawaz, Deepak Baliyan, and Ratna Singh , while Nawaz announced a 14 member Protest Coordination Committee for the June 28 demonstration.