'Fully prepared to sacrifice my freedom': Abhijeet Dipke addresses CJP protest in Delhi

NEW DELHI: Abhijeet Dipke, founder of the online movement Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), on Saturday criticised the government for allegedly focusing on the organisation's social media activity instead of addressing its demands, including the resignation of education minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged irregularities in examinations and recruitment tests.

Dipke addressed a gathering at Jantar Mantar in Delhi, where scores of young people assembled under heavy security arrangements to participate in the protest, according to news agency PTI.



"My friends, this is a long struggle. It has been a month since we started demanding Pradhan's resignation on social media, but these individuals are so shameless that instead of taking action, they have been focused on other distractions, like hacking our accounts and getting our posts deleted. You may be able to delete our posts, but you cannot erase us from this space," Dipke stated during his address to the crowd, which energetically supported his words.

He also informed protesters that activist Sonam Wangchuk would soon join the demonstration and thanked him for extending support to the movement.

Recalling his arrival in Delhi earlier in the day, Dipke said he felt as though he was experiencing his final moments of freedom before his flight landed at Indira Gandhi International Airport.

"I was fully prepared to sacrifice my freedom for this cause," he said.

The CJP founder further alleged that many people had compromised their principles out of fear of imprisonment.

"Lekin is desh ka chatra, yuva nahi bika hai (The youth and students of this country have not sold themselves)," he said amid enthusiastic support from the crowd.

Hundreds of people, most of them young, attended the protest. Several participants wore cockroach masks and carried flowers, while school students were also seen at the venue alongside their parents.

The gathering largely comprised school and college students as well as young professionals. Protesters raised slogans demanding accountability for alleged examination irregularities and called for the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

Ahead of the demonstration, Dipke had appealed to supporters to remain disciplined and ensure the protest stayed peaceful.

Activist Sonam Wangchuk, who has publicly backed the movement, said he would undertake a six-week fast if Dipke is arrested.

In a post on X, Dipke expressed enthusiasm about meeting supporters at Jantar Mantar and encouraged them to bring a book and the national flag. He also urged participants to offer flowers to police personnel as a "gesture of compassion and gratitude," stressing that the movement should be guided by "love and peace."

The protest was organised by the CJP, a youth-led online movement seeking accountability for alleged irregularities in examinations and recruitment processes, including NEET, CBSE, CUET and SSC exams.

Security was tightened across the national capital ahead of the demonstration. Police officials said additional personnel had been deployed at Indira Gandhi International Airport, border entry points and other sensitive locations.

More than 1,000 police personnel were deployed across New Delhi and other strategic areas as a precautionary measure.

In the lead-up to the protest, the CJP circulated guidelines urging participants to maintain non-violent conduct and avoid confrontation. Dipke reiterated those instructions in his latest appeal, calling for respectful engagement with law enforcement personnel throughout the demonstration.