Student Protest
CJP · Jantar Mantar · 2026
Everything about India’s Gen Z education protest.
Independent docs on the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) sit-in at Jantar Mantar, Delhi 2026 — NEET leak demands, timeline, leaders, and Wangchuk’s hunger strike.
From the ground
Photos from the Jantar Mantar student protest
Scenes from the CJP sit-in, hunger strike, police action, and public solidarity around Delhi’s 2026 education protest.
Photos are documentary; some may be from related coverage of the period — captions indicate context. Graphic images of injuries may be distressing.
Contains images of injury and police action.
Students demand education reform
Crowd presses the barricades
Raw emotion on the street
Clash near Ministry of Finance
RAF riot line
Tear smoke munitions on the street
Flag and Ambedkar in the crowd
Student detained by police
Injury during the crackdown
Medical check at the sit-in
Wangchuk on hunger strike
Lathi clash in the street
Arundhati Roy at the stage
Documented injuries
Tear smoke — handle with care
What they asked for
CJP protest demands at Jantar Mantar
From the Cockroach Janta Party letter to Shri JP Nadda, Minister of Health, Government of India, dated 20 July 2026 — signed by Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka.
- 01
Release of Mr. Sonam Wangchuk, with no prohibition on his movements
CJP asked that Sonam Wangchuk be released and allowed to move freely, after he was taken from the protest site during his hunger strike.
- 02
Resignation / sacking of Mr. Dharmendra Pradhan
The letter holds the Education Minister responsible for paper leaks including NEET 2026, CBSE 12th portal chaos, CUET delays, and the deaths of students — and demands his immediate resignation or sacking.
- 03
₹1 crore compensation for NEET aspirants who died by suicide after the 2026 paper leak
CJP demanded Rs. 1Cr compensation for every NEET aspirant who committed suicide following the NEET 2026 paper leak.
- 04
Stop brute force on peaceful protestors
CJP further requested that Delhi Police immediately stop using brute force on peaceful protestors, stating the demands are legitimate and in line with the aspirations of India’s youth.
Source document
Official demands letter
Subject: Our demands with respect to the ongoing CJP protest at Jantar Mantar
Background
What this protest is — and how it erupted
In May 2026, a satirical youth movement calling itself the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) formed online after remarks comparing unemployed young people and activists to “cockroaches.” Founded by Abhijeet Dipke, the campaign rapidly gathered millions of followers.
Anger over the 2026 NEET paper leak and CBSE On-Screen Marking irregularities pushed the satire onto the street. On 6 June, CJP held its first physical protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, demanding education reform and the resignation of the Union Education Minister.
The agitation widened when Ladakhi engineer and education activist Sonam Wangchuk began an indefinite hunger strike at the site on 28 June. Crowds grew, opposition leaders and film personalities visited, and on 20 July thousands attempted a Sansad Chalo march toward Parliament as the monsoon session began.
Major beats
Timeline of the Delhi Jantar Mantar protest 2026
Major dates from the Wikipedia timeline of the CJP / Jantar Mantar protest — from founding through Sansad Chalo.
Cockroach Janta Party founded
Digital strategist Abhijeet Dipke founds CJP as a satirical political movement after Chief Justice Surya Kant’s remarks comparing unemployed youth to “cockroaches.” The campaign rapidly gains a large social media following.
Source: WikipediaFirst physical protest at Jantar Mantar
Dipke arrives from the United States and launches CJP’s first street agitation in Delhi. Police grant time-bound permission; organisers ask participants to bring the national flag and a book as symbols of education and equal opportunity.
Source: WikipediaSit-ins and awareness drives across Delhi
The movement shifts into periodic sit-ins, digital campaigns, and awareness drives. On 11 June, CJP launches a nationwide education-reform campaign from Savitribai Phule Pune University.
Source: WikipediaExtended mobilisation and plate protest
Demonstrators regroup at Jantar Mantar for a longer sit-in, banging plates and spoons. Dipke refuses to leave until Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigns. Wangchuk announces he will begin an indefinite hunger strike if demands are unmet.
Source: WikipediaCall for NEET aspirants to join
Dipke issues a public appeal for NEET aspirants to join the venue following the re-examination.
Source: WikipediaProtest gains nationwide social media attention
Coverage and online mobilisation widen as the sit-in continues at Jantar Mantar.
Source: WikipediaSonam Wangchuk begins indefinite hunger strike
Ladakhi environmentalist and engineer Sonam Wangchuk joins the protest and starts an indefinite fast alongside six AISA students, including National President Neha Bora, demanding Pradhan’s resignation.
Source: WikipediaJustice for students who died by suicide
CJP demands the education minister’s resignation and justice for students who died by suicide following examination leaks.
Source: WikipediaNationwide ‘Pradhan Go Back’ campaign
CJP launches a nationwide ‘Pradhan Go Back’ campaign against the Union Education Minister.
Source: WikipediaOpposition support and growing crowds
The protest draws support from opposition parties and wider public sympathy, especially around Wangchuk’s hunger strike. By 17 July — day 19 of his fast — he had lost 9.1 kg and needed help to stand.
Source: WikipediaWangchuk forcibly taken to hospital
Delhi Police remove Wangchuk from the protest site to Safdarjung Hospital, citing medical advice and Delhi High Court directions. Dipke and SFI leaders Adarsh M. Saji and Aishe Ghosh begin indefinite hunger strikes in response. Rahul Gandhi criticises the action.
Source: WikipediaSansad Chalo march and police crackdown
More than 10,000 protesters gather and attempt to march to Parliament. Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das meet Health Minister J. P. Nadda with demands including Wangchuk’s release, Pradhan’s resignation, and ₹1 crore compensation for families of deceased NEET aspirants. Delhi Police report 118 personnel hurt; hospitals record dozens of injuries among protesters and police. Dipke, Dimple Yadav and others are detained.
Source: WikipediaProtesters reclaim Jantar Mantar
After police remove the stage and tents following the previous day’s confrontations, protesters reclaim the Jantar Mantar site.
Source: Wikipedia
Who led it
Leaders of the CJP student protest
Key figures who organised, fasted, and spoke for the Jantar Mantar sit-in in Delhi.
Sonam Wangchuk
Engineer & education activist
Ladakhi reformer whose indefinite hunger strike from 28 June became a focal point of the agitation and drew nationwide attention.
Abhijeet Dipke
CJP founder
Digital strategist who founded the Cockroach Janta Party as online satire in May 2026 and led its turn into street protest at Jantar Mantar.
Saurav Das
Chief Spokesperson, CJP
CJP chief spokesperson who, with Ashutosh Ranka, met Health Minister J. P. Nadda on 20 July 2026 to present the movement’s written demands.
Ashutosh Ranka
National Spokesperson, CJP
CJP national spokesperson who joined the Nadda meeting and publicly restated demands for Wangchuk’s release, Pradhan’s resignation, and NEET-related compensation.
Gitanjali Angmo
Activist · wife of Sonam Wangchuk
Stood with the protest through Wangchuk’s hospitalisation, joined the Sansad Chalo mobilisation, and continued the sit-in alongside Dipke after the site was cleared.
Public solidarity
Celebrity voices on the student protest
Film personalities who publicly supported the CJP students and Sonam Wangchuk’s hunger strike at Jantar Mantar.
Shabana Azmi
Actor
“Right to raise voice peacefully.”
Visited Jantar Mantar and expressed solidarity with protesters ahead of the Sansad Chalo march.
Source: The Indian Express
Prakash Raj
Actor
“I am with you.”
Joined the protest site and posted public messages of support for the youth movement.
Source: The Indian Express
Sonakshi Sinha
Actor
“It’s for our children’s future and those who lost their lives.”
Shared Instagram videos backing Wangchuk and the students’ demand for accountability.
Source: The Hindu
Imran Khan
Actor
“You raise your voices for the best in us, and it is my honour to stand beside you.”
Issued a public statement standing with students whose exams were invalidated by leaks.
Source: The Indian Express
Fatima Sana Shaikh
Actor
“We can’t wait until it’s too late to listen.”
Lent public support as film personalities rallied around Wangchuk’s hunger strike.
Source: The Indian Express
Common questions
FAQ on the Delhi student protest
Straight answers about the CJP Jantar Mantar protest, its demands, and this documentation site.
What is the CJP / Jantar Mantar protest in Delhi?
The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) led a youth protest at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi, starting June 2026, demanding education reforms and accountability after the NEET 2026 paper leak and related examination controversies.
What are the main demands of the protest?
According to CJP’s letter to J.P. Nadda dated 20 July 2026, key demands included: Release of Mr. Sonam Wangchuk, with no prohibition on his movements; Resignation / sacking of Mr. Dharmendra Pradhan; ₹1 crore compensation for NEET aspirants who died by suicide after the 2026 paper leak; Stop brute force on peaceful protestors.
Who are key figures associated with the protest?
Prominent figures documented here include Sonam Wangchuk, Abhijeet Dipke, Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka, and Gitanjali Angmo — organisers, spokespersons, and hunger-strike participants linked to the Jantar Mantar sit-in.
When did Sonam Wangchuk begin his hunger strike?
According to public timeline records, Sonam Wangchuk began an indefinite hunger strike at Jantar Mantar on 28 June 2026 alongside AISA students.
Is this website affiliated with CJP or the government?
No. This is an independent documentation site, not affiliated with CJP, any political party, or any government. Content is compiled from public reporting and primary documents.
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