A series of demonstrations took place in Jantar Mantar, New Delhi, India, between 6 June and 25 July 2026. They were initiated by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), an Indian youth-based satirical political movement, along with left-wing student organisations including the All India Students Federation, All India Students Association, and Students' Federation of India. Held primarily at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, the protesters have demanded the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over irregularities in several of that year's national examinations—the 2026 NEET paper leak and the CBSE On-Screen Marking irregularities—along with broader reforms in the conduct of public examinations. The CJP, along with the Congress party, also sought compensation for the families of students who died by suicide due to the examination turmoil. The agitation drew national attention after activist Sonam Wangchuk began an indefinite hunger strike at the protest site on 28 June.
The CJP had been created in May 2026 by digital communications strategist Abhijeet Dipke as a political satire, alluding to a statement by Surya Kant, the Chief Justice of India, who compared unemployed youth and social media activists to "cockroaches" and "parasites". Having gained widespread online popularity, the movement transitioned into offline demonstrations, which were initially permitted by the Delhi Police.
On 28 June 2026, Ladakhi environmentalist and education activist Sonam Wangchuk joined the demonstration at Jantar Mantar. He started an indefinite hunger strike and demanded the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan.
In mid-July 2026, following a leadership change in the Delhi Police, police removed barricades at the protest site and transferred Wangchuk to a hospital, a move organisers claimed was done against his will. This action, along with an incident where a woman who chanted Hindutva slogans and threw ink at Dipke, drew increased media attention to the agitation.
On 20 July, thousands of protesters, comprising primarily students and Gen Z congregants, gathered near Jantar Mantar, defying orders from the Delhi Police to disperse, and began to march toward Parliament. Clashes ensued, with police using baton charges and tear gas against protesters in an attempt to prevent them from reaching the Parliament, where the monsoon session was underway. International media outlets, including France 24 and CNN, described the protests as the largest demonstrations against the country's government in several years, while the Delhi Police stated their actions were necessary to maintain public order. Following the police response, CJP leaders announced the movement would not organise further street marches in the capital, though the sit-in at Jantar Mantar and the campaign for Pradhan's resignation would continue.
Following the crackdown, the Delhi Police dismantled the protesters' tents at the designated site, though demonstrators quickly began rebuilding their camps amidst rain and rubble.
On 23 July 2026, Wangchuk ended his hunger strike after the government assured him that no legal action would be taken against protesters rallying at Jantar Mantar site, a discussion would be held on preventing paper leaks in future and compensation would be given to students who committed suicide. Pradhan resigned on 25 July 2026. The protests were called off later in the day after the government agreed to the CJP's demands.
Background Formation of the Cockroach Janta Party
In May 2026, Surya Kant, the Chief Justice of India, drew criticism for remarks made during a Supreme Court hearing in which he compared the unemployed youth to "cockroaches" and "parasites" who attack institutions through social media activism and litigation.
The remarks drew widespread public criticism. On 16 May 2026, digital communications strategist Abhijeet Dipke founded the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP; Cockroach People's Party). Its name is a direct reference to Kant's remarks. The movement rapidly gained a large social media following. Kant later clarified that his criticism was directed at individuals who had entered the legal, media, and activist professions using fraudulent academic credentials, and that he respected the youth.
Scandals
The protests followed two examination-related scandals in 2026: a paper leak affecting the NEET-UG medical entrance examination and irregularities in the Central Board of Secondary Education's on-screen marking and revaluation process, which left thousands of students awaiting clarity on their final results.
Timeline May 3 May 2026 The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET-UG) 2026 was conducted across India.
12 May 2026 The National Testing Agency (NTA), with the approval of the Government of India, cancelled the NEET-UG 2026 examination following allegations of a question paper leak and referred the matter to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for investigation.
June 1 June 2026 Members of the All India Students' Association (AISA) and Krantikari Yuva Sangathan (KYS) protested outside the Ministry of Education in New Delhi against the alleged NEET paper leak, irregularities in the CBSE Class 12 examinations and CUET, and demanded accountability from the government.
6 June Abhijeet Dipke arrives from the United States to India, launching the CJP's first street protest.
7–19 June The movement transitions into periodic sit-ins, digital campaigns, and awareness drives across Delhi.
20 June Demonstrators regroup at Jantar Mantar for extended mobilisation.
21 June Dipke issues a public appeal for NEET aspirants to join the venue following re-examination.
22–27 June Protests gain widespread attention on social networking sites.
28 June Prominent Ladakhi environmentalist and engineer Sonam Wangchuk joins the protest, declaring an indefinite hunger strike alongside six students of the All India Students Association (AISA), demanding the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan, the Union Minister of Education.
30 June CJP launches nationwide 'Pradhan Go Back' campaign.
July 1–17 July CJP protests gain support from opposition parties, garnering widespread public support, especially for Sonam Wangchuk's hunger strike.
18 July Sonam Wangchuk is removed from the protest site by police; Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, criticises the action. Abhijeet Dipke and others start an indefinite hunger strike in protest of his removal.
20 July Tens of thousands of protesters gather at Jantar Mantar and attempt to march toward the Parliament House. CJP representatives Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das meet Union Health Minister J. P. Nadda to present demands, including the release of Wangchuk, the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan, and financial compensation of (10 million rupees, equivalent to US$) for families of deceased NEET aspirants. Security forces used baton charges and tear gas to disperse protesters attempting to march towards the Parliament through police barricades. Gurdwara Bangla Sahib became a refuge for several such students and protesters fleeing batons and teargas. Some protesters clashed with the Delhi Police and engaged in stone-pelting. The Delhi Police stated that it will register FIRs against those protesters who engaged in violence. Delhi Police stated that at least 118 personnel were hurt and between 15–20 government vehicles were damaged during the protests. Hospital authorities and police sources reported that around 60 protesters were injured. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital alone recorded 65 medico-legal cases involving both protesters and police by 7 pm. According to the CJP, one party member suffered a broken leg during interactions with Delhi Police. Three of the AISA activists who had joined Wangchuk's hunger strike on 28 June ended their fast on 20 July, while Wangchuk continued his own fast at Safdarjung Hospital. Following the removal of the stage and tents, protesters returned to Jantar Mantar during the night of 20–21 July and began rebuilding the protest infrastructure. According to CJP leaders, around 150 protesters were hospitalised and roughly 70 were detained. An additional district commissioner of police (DCP), later identified as Sandeep Lamba, was witnessed and recorded slapping a woman. Lamba's assault on the female protestor, footage of which was later circulated widely, was cited in a public interest litigation on the disproportionate usage of force by police in a hearing currently underway in the Delhi High Court. Saket Gokhale, former Rajya Sabha MP, lodged a complaint seeking the registration of an FIR against Lamba.
21 July Protesters reclaimed the Jantar Mantar protest site after police cleared the stage and tents during Monday's demonstrations. Vijeta Dahiya, the CJP spokesperson, was removed from his position after taking a fast food break while protesters and party members were clashing with police. The Delhi High Court ordered Sonam Wangchuk to be shifted immediately from Safdarjung hospital to Medanta Hospital in Gurugram. Congress MPs led by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, alongside leaders from other opposition parties, protested outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi's residence demanding answers regarding the police actions during the march. Police subsequently detained Rahul Gandhi along with other opposition leaders outside the PM's residence and released a few hours later. CJP announced their intent to conduct a protest at the Delhi Police headquarters if the detained protesters were not released, while the Delhi Police stated that no protesters were detained during the march. Demonstrations were held by Hindus for Human Rights in New York City and San Jose, California, to express solidarity with Wangchuk. Similar solidarity demonstrations were also held outside the Indian High Commission in London and the Indian Embassy in Dublin. Volunteers and supporters donated food and water supplies for the demonstrators at Jantar Mantar. Food deliveries and supplies from supporters in India and abroad were being collected by volunteers near police barricades and distributed among protesters at the site. Medical volunteers who had been at the site for a month were also present to treat wounded and sick protesters. A panel consisting of Chief Justice D.K. Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia of the Delhi High Court declined an urgent student hearing following what petitioners termed the police's disproportionate and excessive use of force against protesters, stating "Don't drag us into it."
22 July
The protests spread to many other cities of India, including in Mumbai, Chandigarh, Surat, Patna, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kerala, Lucknow and Kolkata. Chief Justice of India Surya Kant rejected an urgent hearing on a petition alleging Delhi Police brutality against the student protesters during the 20 July march, telling the petitioner to not waste their time, as the court said it would not review the cited videos allegedly documenting a disproportionate police response. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) temporarily closed down 16 metro stations across Central Delhi as authorities widened security measures. A total of 20 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) companies were airlifted from Kolkata to be deployed in Delhi after the Ministry of Home Affairs ordered their immediate deployment in the national capital on Tuesday night. Thousands of CJP supporters continued to protest in the capital despite heavy rains overnight.