CJP founder Dipke urges NEET aspirants to join Delhi protest after exam

Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke on Sunday (June 21) wished luck to NEET UG aspirants for their re-test and urged them to join the organisation’s protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar after taking the examination.

“Best of luck to all NEET re-exam aspirants. Our best wishes are with you. Join us at Jantar Mantar after your exam ends, we are looking forward to meeting you all!” Dipke said in a post on X.

Watch: Exclusive | Abhijeet Dipke: 'Ready for arrest; will stay here, won't return to US'

Around 22 lakh students are appearing in a re-test, after the governing body, National Testing Agency (NTA) cancelled the May 3 NEET-UG 2026 exam amid allegations of a paper leak, with the government asking the CBI to carry out a comprehensive inquiry into the matter.

Day 2 of protest

Dipke and his organisation have been demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the gross irregularities seen in the whole examination process, while calling for more accountability and structural reforms.

The CJP had begun its protest on Saturday (June 20) and continued to stage a sit-in at Jantar Mantar overnight in support of their demand even though Delhi Police said the permission granted for the gathering ended at 5 pm on Saturday and asked the protesters to vacate the site.

Also read: Delhi Police denies CJP protest extension at Jantar Mantar; Dipke vows not to budge

Dipke asked police to assign a different site for the protest, but until then, they would continue their sit-in at Jantar Mantar.

Don’t stop protesters: Dipke appeals to police

In a series of posts on X, Dipke appealed to police not to stop people from coming to Jantar Mantar, saying the protesters were not doing anything wrong and were only seeking justice for students who died by suicide.

He also requested authorities to restore water supply to public restrooms at the protest site, claiming that there had been no water supply since Saturday night. The protesters had earlier alleged that lights at the site were switched off and access to water, food and washrooms was restricted.

They later said drinking water access was restored, and lights were switched back on.

Charged atmosphere

The Delhi Police had on Saturday night directed Dipke and the protesters to vacate the venue, saying the demonstration had permission only from 10 am to 5 pm. The police said continuation beyond the permitted hours was a violation of the conditions of permission and warned of legal action.

Also read: CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke accuses RSS of being behind attack on him

As the night progressed, Dipke and the protesters remained at the site, turning the demonstration into an overnight sit-in. The protesters continued raising slogans demanding Pradhan's resignation, and the protest site saw a steady presence of supporters through the night, with Dipke continuing to address the gathering and urging more people to join the demonstration.

Several protesters carried placards and raised slogans, and the atmosphere remained charged at Jantar Mantar.

Dipke said the protest would continue peacefully and reiterated his appeal for dialogue with the Centre, saying the channel for talks remained open if accountability was fixed and the education minister resigned.

CJP’s demands

The protest began on Saturday afternoon under heavy police deployment, CCTV surveillance, barricades and the presence of security personnel wearing body cameras.

Hundreds of supporters, mostly youth, gathered at Jantar Mantar after Dipke's call to bring "thali and chammach" and banged plates and spoons while raising slogans demanding Pradhan's resignation.

Dipke has demanded compensation of Rs 1 crore for the families of students who died by suicide following the paper leak and cancellation of the entrance examination.

Also read: Cockroach Janta Party linked to AAP? Founder Abhijeet Dipke’s past ties raise questions

"If there are arrests, I will be the first to court arrest," he had told protesters.

Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, who joined the protest, had announced that he would go on a hunger strike on June 27 if Pradhan did not step down.

This was the second protest organised by CJP at Jantar Mantar over alleged repeated paper leaks and demands for accountability from the government.

(With inputs from agencies)