New Delhi: Hundreds of competitive examination and government job aspirants gathered at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi to participate in a large-scale demonstration highlighting systemic failures within the education and recruitment sectors. Organised by the Cockroach Janta Party, the protest drew a rapidly swelling crowd that organizers estimated reached nearly 2,000 participants by Saturday afternoon, causing heavy foot traffic on all approach roads leading to the venue.
The demonstration saw high-profile support, including renowned education reform activist and engineer Sonam Wangchuk, who paid tribute to examination aspirants who had tragically lost their lives to suicide. In his address, Wangchuk highlighted the immense psychological and structural struggles faced by students preparing for rigorous competitive exams like NEET, JEE, and the Civil Services. Invoking principles of peaceful and principled activism, he called for deep structural accountability, stating that the movement is fundamentally about questioning the governance of the education system.
Prominent actor Sangwan, widely recognized for his role in the Netflix web series Maamla Legal Hai, also joined the protest to voice solidarity with the student community. Addressing the crowd, Sangwan shared details of administrative pressure he faced for his activism but emphasized that national interest and student welfare must always precede professional considerations. He pointed out egregious logistical irregularities, including an instance where an Indian student was arbitrarily allotted a test centre as far away as Abu Dhabi, and demanded the immediate resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over continuous paper leaks.
The atmosphere at Jantar Mantar remained highly charged as speakers used satire, poetry, and protest songs to communicate their grievances against recruitment delays and unfulfilled vacancies. Protesters carried placards featuring satirical memes, notably chanting slogans like “Go Pradhan Go” following speeches criticizing the Union Ministry’s handling of recent academic crises. Despite the intense rhetoric, CJP leadership appealed to the public and the heavily deployed security forces to maintain absolute peace, thanking the Delhi Police personnel for their administrative cooperation during the security checks and barricading at the venue.
