Cockroach Party Backers Demand Education Minister's Resignation

WHO:

AP News - Supporters of India's Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke, student Vicky Kumar, CJP supporter Deepak Kumar.

WHAT:

AP News - Supporters banged steel plates with spoons in a protest demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

AP News - The protest involved hundreds of students and young supporters.

AP News - The exam paper for a nationwide medical program was leaked last month, leading to the postponement of the exam.

AP News - The CJP has amassed more than 22 million followers on Instagram.

WHERE:

AP News - The protest took place near Parliament in New Delhi, India.

WHEN:

AP News - The exam is scheduled to be held on Sunday.

WHY:

AP News - The protest was in response to allegations of examination irregularities and repeated paper leaks.

AP News - The movement emerged after Supreme Court Judge Surya Kant's remarks comparing unemployed youth to "cockroaches," which triggered outrage.

HOW:

AP News - Authorities deployed heavy security and police used cameras and drones to monitor the protest.

AP News - CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke urged supporters on social media to bring plates and spoons for the protest.

AP News - Supporters carried placards and banged plates, satirizing Modi's previous call for banging utensils in solidarity with health workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

(UPDATED June 20, 2026 15:31 UTC)

In New Delhi, hundreds of students and young supporters protested near Parliament, demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan due to allegations of examination irregularities and repeated paper leaks. The protest was sparked by Supreme Court Judge Surya Kant's controversial remarks about unemployed youth, and supporters banged steel plates with spoons, satirizing Prime Minister Modi's earlier call for banging utensils in solidarity with health workers during the pandemic. The nationwide medical exam, which was postponed after a paper leak last month, is now scheduled to take place on Sunday.