Cockroach Janata Party Takes NEET Leak Fight to Pune; Thousands Expected at SPPU Protest on Thursday

Reported by Radhika Sharma and Shoaib Tadvi
Pune, 10th June 2026: The Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), a youth-led movement campaigning against alleged examination irregularities, has announced a major protest at Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) on June 11, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the alleged mishandling of the NEET paper leak controversy and other issues affecting students.

Speaking at a press conference held at Patrakar Bhavan in Pune today, CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke said the protest would begin at 4 pm and focus on concerns related to the NEET paper leak, examination transparency, recruitment test irregularities, and what he described as the government’s failure to address students’ grievances.

Dipke claimed that students raising concerns about examination-related issues are often unfairly labelled.

“Anyone who speaks against the government is immediately called anti-national, whether it is students, the media, or any other citizen raising legitimate questions,” he said, stressing that criticism and accountability are essential in a democracy.

During the press conference, he also highlighted concerns regarding the functioning of the education system and referred to issues affecting students under the CBSE framework, arguing that examination-related controversies extend beyond a single test and reflect broader challenges in educational governance.

The announcement comes days after CJP’s protest at Jantar Mantar on June 6, where members raised similar concerns and demanded accountability over alleged examination lapses across the country.

“It’s only been 15 days. We are still in the structural process. Nothing is set in stone yet,” Dipke said while discussing the organisation’s rapid growth.

He added, “The CJP is not a social media trend anymore. We’ve mobilised, and we’re coming to the streets.”

Maintaining that the movement is politically independent, Dipke said, “I’m not aligning the CJP with any political party. Anyone who wants to join and support the cause is free to.”

“India is a democracy. Anyone who wants to form a party can,” he added.

Dipke said the Pune demonstration is part of a wider campaign that will include protests in Lucknow, Amritsar, Jaipur, and Bengaluru, culminating in another major mobilisation at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on June 20.

“We expect thousands, similar to the turnout at the protest in Delhi,” he said.

Outlining the movement’s plans beyond June 11, Dipke said CJP would continue mobilising youth across several cities before returning to Jantar Mantar on June 20.

“If Dharmendra Pradhan does not resign by June 20, we will reach Jantar Mantar and remain there until he does,” he said.

Questioning the effectiveness of conventional representations, Dipke remarked, “We’ve had to resort directly to protests, with thousands on the streets. If Dharmendra Pradhan still doesn’t resign, what difference will one email make?”

Appealing directly to students and young people, he said, “I appeal to the youth. I ask for your support and for you to raise your voice.”

Dipke also said that issues related to the alleged hacking of his social media account had influenced his decision to return to India and actively lead the movement on the ground.

According to CJP leaders, the campaign aims to draw attention to the alleged NEET paper leak, concerns over examination integrity, transparency in recruitment processes, and the need for greater accountability within the country’s education system.

The June 11 protest at SPPU is expected to be one of the organisation’s largest gatherings in Maharashtra and will serve as a precursor to the nationwide demonstrations planned later this month.