CJP protest continues at Jantar Mantar over NEET paper leak

On the fifth day of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest at Jantar Mantar, one of Delhi’s best-known sites for public demonstrations, people, including student activists, police, CJP party members, and locals, gathered in the morning. They continued the protest with the same courage as in the previous four days, raising their voice against the NEET-UG exams and demanding justice for the 21 students who lost their lives due to the negligence of the authorities.

The protest also highlighted students’ concerns that unfair means in examinations can seriously undermine their future and hard work, and they demanded the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

At the venue, a significant police presence and several barricades were in place to maintain law and order. Despite the heavy security arrangements, the atmosphere remained peaceful and organised. Protesters carried banners with messages and slogans calling for transparency and fairness in the education system. Some participants also addressed the crowd and explained the reason behind the protest.

When people were asked about the protest’s duration and whether it would succeed, they said they were confident it would succeed and hoped it would end soon. When others were asked why they were participating, they said they were there to support the youth, as they are the country’s future, and that it is their duty to support students and stand with them in this situation. Many protesters questioned the examination authorities, saying this paper leak has been ongoing for the past few years.

Many said that conditions in Government schools are compromised, and even basic facilities like washrooms and clean drinking water are hard to provide. Vacancies are very low compared to the number of students appearing for the exams. They also mentioned that private schools are unaffordable for everyone. Thus, concerns remain about the quality of education in the country.

The protest included participation from the Kisan Union and the AISF (All India Students Federation). It provided basic facilities such as food, water, and an open library service to participating students. The members of CJP raised slogans like “Inquilab Zindabad”, “Bharat Mata Ki Jai”, and calls for the minister’s resignation.

Several students at the CJP protest alleged that they faced pressure from parents to discourage them from participating in the demonstration at Jantar Mantar, citing concerns about their safety.

This added another layer to the protest’s concerns. Interactions with students, organisers, and attendees highlighted the importance of peaceful democratic expression in bringing public issues to the public’s attention.