Hundreds of students, young professionals and parents gathered at Jantar Mantar on Saturday under the banner of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), demanding Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation over alleged irregularities in examinations and recruitment tests, with outfit founder Abhijeet Dipke delivering the message “not to be scared”.Dipke, who called for the protest, arrived at the IGI airport from the US early on Saturday morning amid heightened security arrangements and uncertainty over whether he would be detained before reaching the protest venue. The movement also received support from activist Sonam Wangchuk, adding visibility beyond student circles.After receiving permission from the Delhi Police, he reached Jantar Mantar where crowds supporting cockroach masks, flowers and handmade placards had been gathering since morning.The protest also carried a political deadline. Dipke had earlier set a 5 pm deadline for Pradhan’s resignation and warned that failure to respond would trigger a broader mobilisation. “If there is no response, this movement returns next Saturday and not only in Delhi,” he said, signalling protests across states. Till late evening, there was no response from the government.The CJP, which began as an online movement, found its biggest street expression yet as protesters from different states assembled in the capital. From school students accompanied by parents to college youth and working professionals, the gathering reflected widening frustration over alleged paper leaks, technical glitches, recruitment delays and repeated controversies surrounding examinations, including NEET, CUET, CBSE and SSC-related processes.Paper cockroach masks, now the defining symbol of the movement, dominated the venue. Protesters carried flowers, distributed pamphlets and held posters reading “Main Hoon Cockroach”, while others carried placards seeking the Education Minister’s resignation and accountability.Security remained tight throughout the day with barricades, frisking points and heavy police deployment around Jantar Mantar as authorities monitored the gathering amid concerns over crowd build-up.By around 10 am, Jantar Mantar had begun filling slowly as groups of students gathered near barricades waiting for Dipke’s arrival. Supporters exchanged updates after word spread that he might first need police clearance before reaching the venue.Saurav Das, one of the movement’s key organisers and spokespersons, remained at the site coordinating volunteers as the crowd steadily grew. As the wait stretched beyond 11 am, supporters repeatedly checked phones for updates while slogans continued across the barricaded protest zone.Dipke eventually reached Jantar Mantar around 11.30 am after completing formalities and obtaining clearance from the Delhi Police, drawing loud cheers from supporters gathered near the stage. The protest site quickly echoed with slogans against alleged failures in examination systems as participants demanded accountability and structural reforms.Addressing the gathering, Dipke framed the mobilisation as more than a protest over examinations, describing it as a wider struggle involving students, jobs and the future of young Indians.Calling the campaign a prolonged battle, Dipke said, “For nearly a month, we have been seeking accountability online, but instead of addressing students’ concerns, efforts were allegedly directed towards limiting our digital reach.”Claiming attempts had been made to curb the movement online, he said, “Posts and accounts may be restricted, but public anger cannot be erased once it reaches the streets. People often question what such movements achieve, but gatherings like these show students and young people are still willing to organise and fight for their rights.”Key demandsResignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged exam-related irregularitiesAccountability for alleged paper leaks, technical glitches, recruitment lapsesGreater transparency in examinations, recruitmentsReforms in examinations, including NEET, CUET, CBSE and SSCStronger safeguards to prevent future paper leaks and cancellationsTimely recruitment processes and reduction in delays affecting job aspirantsProtection of students’ interests and creation of fair examination systemsWider public discussion on education, jobs and youth concernsHe also criticised the political discourse of recent years. “For last 10-12 years, Hindu-Muslim divisions have dominated public debate while issues concerning education, examinations and jobs have increasingly moved to the background,” Dipke said, questioning whether such politics had improved employment opportunities for young people.Recalling his journey to Delhi, Dipke said he had mentally prepared himself for possible detention even before landing in the capital. “Before my flight landed, I had already accepted that participating in this movement could come at the cost of personal freedom,” he said.Speaking about pressure faced by activists, Dipke argued that fear had pushed many people into silence over time. “My own family, especially my mother, feared that speaking publicly against those in power could result in imprisonment,” he said.Several times during his address, Dipke urged supporters to remain disciplined and ensure the demonstration stayed peaceful.Dipke thanked Wangchuk during his address and told supporters the activist was expected to join later in the day. Wangchuk, meanwhile, said he would have begun a six-week fast if Dipke was arrested. “Students raising questions over education and jobs should not face intimidation, and peaceful protest remains essential in a democracy,” Wangchuk said.