From a hashtag to the gates of Parliament, one demand has resonated louder than most.(Img-X)
New Delhi: Politics is seldom measured by the slogans you hear on the street but rather by how people in power respond to them. That has been the case most eloquently for almost two months now when the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), once a viral internet meme, has evolved into a national protest against the NEET paper leak incident. From a hashtag to the gates of Parliament, one demand has resonated louder than most: Should Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resign?
At the center of the protest is one demand that has now become political: Will Prime Minister Narendra Modi ask Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to resign?
There is comfort in the truth that there is no signals that such a move is on the horizon. That being said, the protest movement is raising political questions.
Cockroach Janta Party was founded on May 16 by political communications consultant, Abhijeet Dipke. The creation stemmed from a satirical response to remarks made by the Chief Justice of India, Surya Kant linking unemployed activists to “cockroaches” and “parasites.” The movement rapidly gained attention among young Indians who were frustrated about unemployment, education and governance.
Within a span of weeks, CJP has moved on from the internet. There are demonstrations in Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Jaipur and many other cities. Delhi is the focus of the movement because the power dynamics are centered there.
Many would say one major difference is the diversity of the protesters. From an earlier known student organized movement, this has now all of India showing up. Young professionals, parents, senior citizens and even children have shown up at the Jantar Mantar and the Parliament march.
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The protest has moved beyond symbolism. During their meeting with Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda, CJP spokespersons submitted three key demands:
Immediate release of Sonam Wangchuk.
Resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
₹1 crore compensation for the families of NEET aspirants who allegedly died by suicide.
According to CJP spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka, Nadda asked him to talk about these demands with the party leadership. According to another spokesperson Sourav Das, Nadda had been briefed with the demands but was not given any assurances or promises.
Opposition parties in Indian politics have always demanded the resignation of a minister when a major controversy has erupted. Ministers were battery-stuck over allegations of a 2G spectrum case, Commonwealth Games and coal block allocations during the UPA era.
It is important to understand that a resignation does not indicate guilt. It is quite often a political move undertaken to maintain the image of accountability while investigations are underway.
The CJP is now trying to enforce that same logic on alleged irregularities with NEET. It remains to be seen if that logic would be accepted by broader politics.
One big factor could be Dharmendra Pradhan's stature in the BJP.
He has built a career within the party organisation over decades and remains one of the most trusted leaders in BJP. His long organisational experience, political stature and decades-long close association with the Sangh Parivar make him a key figure in the government.
Pushing out a senior minister under pressure from a newly formed protest movement could also send a political message that the government may not want to send. Thus the decision would be based not just on public pressure but also on facts, legal grounds, political calculations and how the government judges the entire situation.
Monday's Parliament march showed that the movement is no longer confined to social media. Protesters attempting to march toward Parliament were stopped by security personnel near Sansad Marg. Baton charges and tear gas were used after crowds attempted to move forward, while several protesters reportedly sustained minor injuries.
The images from Delhi have drawn national attention and have kept the NEET controversy in the headlines. Whether this public pressure translates into political action remains to be seen.
At present, there is no official indication that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is considering Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation. J.P. Nadda has only assured CJP representatives that their demands would be discussed at the appropriate level, without making any commitment.
The coming days will determine whether the protests continue to expand or lose momentum. If public pressure grows, opposition parties intensify their campaign, or fresh developments emerge in the NEET controversy, the political conversation could change.
For now, however, the BJP appears to be standing firmly behind its Education Minister, even as the CJP attempts to transform street protests into sustained political pressure.
