By NE NOW NEWS
Guwahati: The protest led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi entered its second day on Sunday, with party founder Abhijeet Dipke vowing to continue the agitation until Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigns over the NEET paper leak controversy.
Despite Delhi Police directing protesters to vacate the site after the expiry of their permitted protest hours on Saturday evening, Dipke and his supporters remained at Jantar Mantar overnight, converting the demonstration into a round-the-clock sit-in.
Addressing supporters on Sunday, Dipke appealed to the public to join the movement and strengthen the campaign for accountability in the education system. He also called upon NEET aspirants to participate in the protest after completing their re-examination.
The protest has been centred on allegations of examination irregularities, repeated paper leaks and the demand for accountability from the government. Demonstrators have been raising slogans against the Centre while seeking the resignation of the education minister.
According to Delhi Police, permission for the gathering was granted only between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Saturday. Authorities warned that continuing the protest beyond the approved hours amounted to a violation of the conditions imposed for the event and could invite legal action.
Dipke, however, maintained that the protest would continue peacefully. He urged the police to provide an alternative venue for the agitation and said protesters would remain at Jantar Mantar until such arrangements were made.
Throughout the night, supporters continued gathering at the site, carrying placards and participating in slogan-shouting campaigns. Heavy security remained in place, with barricades, CCTV surveillance, and personnel equipped with body cameras monitoring the situation.
The protesters also raised concerns about alleged disruptions to basic facilities at the venue, including access to water and washrooms. While they claimed that drinking water and lighting facilities were later restored, they urged authorities to ensure adequate arrangements for those participating in the demonstration.
In posts shared on social media, Dipke appealed to police not to prevent people from reaching the protest site, asserting that the movement was aimed at securing justice for students affected by the examination controversy.
Among the key demands raised by the CJP is compensation of Rs 1 crore for the families of students who allegedly died by suicide following the paper leak controversy and the cancellation of the examination.
Adding to the pressure on the government, climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, who joined the protest, announced that he would begin a hunger strike on June 27 if the education minister did not step down.
The ongoing agitation marks the second major protest organised by the CJP at Jantar Mantar over alleged examination irregularities and concerns surrounding the conduct of national-level entrance examinations.