Cockroach Protest Ground Report From Jantar Mantar. What We Saw| Sanket Upadhyay

This video is a ground report by journalist Sanket Upadhyay from Jantar Mantar, Delhi, covering a protest organized by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) (0:00-0:33). The protest, now in its second day, is demanding the resignation of the Union Education Minister, Dharmendra Pradhan, following recurring issues with competitive exam paper leaks and systemic mismanagement (3:44-4:58, 7:55-8:04). Key Highlights of the Report: Protest Context: Despite the protest being officially set to end the previous day, the group extended their demonstration at Jantar Mantar. There is a heavy police presence, including Rapid Action Force and mobile command vehicles, to manage the site (0:07-1:38). Core Grievances: The protesters argue that the issue goes beyond the NEET exam; they cite 89 paper leaks and over 140 instances of administrative failure in the last decade (7:55-8:04). They highlight the tragic toll of the situation, noting that students under intense pressure have resorted to extreme steps, including suicide (5:20-6:05). Demands: The movement is demanding that Dharmendra Pradhan resign or be dismissed, and that the Prime Minister break his silence on the matter (8:39-8:46). Broader Participation: The protest is not limited to the Cockroach Janta Party; it has gained support from other groups like the Krantikari Yuva Sangathan and various left-leaning student organizations, despite initial claims that the movement is apolitical (10:41-11:28). Systemic Critique: Demonstrators are also using the platform to protest the privatization of education and the closure of over 93,000 government schools in the last 10 years (7:28-7:39).