The founder of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), Abhijeet Dipke, on Monday declared that he will return to India on June 6 to start a peaceful protest at the Jantar Mantar in Delhi, seeking the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak incident.
Dipke, a Boston-based strategist, had launched the satirical political movement CJP weeks ago following remarks by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant during hearings on examination irregularities when he used the term “cockroaches” while referring to students and activists. The CJI later explained that his comments were not aimed at the pupils and were misunderstood but the episode triggered a massive internet debate. Dipke later formed the CJP, making the ‘cockroach’ a symbol of young activism and a campaign to hold the education system accountable.
Dipke, in a video posted on X, said he chose to return to India to intensify the campaign against Pradhan. He said the NEET paper leak and consequent disruption had hurt millions of students. “The time has come for all of us to unite, walk on the path of the Constitution of India and raise our voice peacefully to demand Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation,” he said.
Support for the movement has also gained ground through protests in different regions of the country including Lucknow, Jaipur and Maharashtra, Dipke claimed, asserting that more than eight lakh students have signed an online petition seeking Pradhan’s resignation. He said that more than one crore students have been affected by problems related to major examinations like NEET, CBSE and CUET. “If the Education Minister does not resign even after such a huge blunder, it means there is no accountability left in this country,” he said adding that students are paying the price for systemic failures.
Dipke said he would reach Delhi on June 6 and request permission from the police for a peaceful march at Jantar Mantar. He emphasized that the movement will be peaceful and asked the students and youth to use their constitutional right to demand accountability from the administration.
Asked if he feared arrest, Dipke replied he still believed that democratic institutions would accept peaceful protest.
“My friends and relatives are scared they’ll get caught and go to jail. But I still hope our country is a democracy and they would allow us to protest peacefully. Let me clarify that I am a great fan of Gandhi, Ambedkar, Bhagat Singh and Nehru. “I have more faith in the Constitution of India than anything else that gives us the right to raise our voice in a democracy,” he said. “As far as fear of jail is concerned, how long will we live in fear? “The country is not the property of any party. It is all our country. It is a matter of our future. We are ruining our future. “Now, it is our responsibility that whenever there is something wrong with anyone in this country, we should all raise our voice in a very peaceful and democratic manner,” he said.
Dipke further added that he had received many job offers in the US recently but he wanted to return to India as he wanted to contribute to the country and help kids who had suffered because of the NEET debate.
Also I have had a lot of employment offers in the last few days. But I am not going to take it. I have decided to come back to India because I love my nation and I truly want to do something for my country. “Wherever we are today, it is because of what this country has given us,” he remarked.
ON NEET CONTROVERSY
Dipke is among the most vocal critics of Pradhan since the cancellation of NEET-UG 2026 held on May 3. Prior to the test, “guess papers”, or mock question papers, were in circulation among students that contained several questions similar to the actual exam.
Following these revelations, the Centre directed a CBI investigation and the National Testing Agency (NTA), which conducts competitive tests like NEET, cancelled the exam claiming it was working in the interest of students and public confidence in the examination system. > > > The exam that was conducted on May 3 was given by over 22 lakh hopefuls and will be held again on June 21 with better security arrangements.
With the demand for his resignation increasing over the NEET paper leak incident, Pradhan defended the government’s handling of the matter and said the responsibility was being rectified through investigations and corrective steps.
Last week, the Centre had maintained during a hearing in the Supreme Court on the NEET paper leak matter that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was personally supervising the process to ensure a fair and transparent re-examination.
