‘Jhengura’ heads to Jantar Mantar as JCC-J backs CJP exam protest

Raipur: In a curious political twist, Chhattisgarh’s “Jhengura” is headed to New Delhi. The Janata Congress Chhattisgarh (J) (JCC-J) on Thursday announced its support for the June 6 protest at Jantar Mantar being organised by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), an online political movement campaigning against alleged irregularities in NEET and other entrance examinations.

The announcement came from JCC-J state president Amit Jogi, who declared on social media that “Jhengura” would join the protest. In Chhattisgarhi dialect, a cockroach is commonly referred to as “Jhengura”.

Jogi said the party founded by former chief minister Ajit Jogi had decided to back the movement despite being “Congress by DNA”, arguing that the country was increasingly looking for a political alternative beyond the BJP and the Congress.

“We are not the last to support CJP. More will follow. The country needs an alternative,” Jogi said.

The JCC-J appears to be the first recognised political party to publicly back the Cockroach Janta Party, which has built a social media following through satire and criticism of mainstream politics.

Drawing a comparison between the survival instincts of cockroaches and the struggles of regional parties, Jogi said several opposition parties had fallen victim to what their leaders describe as “Operation Lotus”. He claimed that JCC-J too had faced similar political pressures.

“We have made mistakes. Movements like the one led by CJP hold up a mirror to us, and we should not turn our backs on that mirror,” he said, adding that many young Indians were searching for a credible political alternative that was “neither Congress nor BJP”.

Referring to CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke, Jogi said the movement had succeeded in drawing attention to growing public frustration over issues affecting students and young people.

The Cockroach Janta Party has called for a dharna at Jantar Mantar on June 6, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged irregularities in examinations including NEET, CUET and CBSE-related processes. The protest is expected to draw students, activists and supporters from across the country.