On June 20, the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) staged its second protest in Delhi, following a series of demonstrations across India, including in Pune, Jaipur, Lucknow and Bengaluru. Compared with its first on-ground protest earlier this month, the demonstration was more organised and, according to many observers, drew a larger turnout of protesters. The stage, set against a flex banner bearing the words “Peaceful Protest”, was occupied by CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke, party functionaries, and “cockroach marshals”.

Several student organisations were also present, including the Students’ Federation of India (SFI), the All India Students’ Association (AISA), the Krantikari Yuva Sangathan (KYS), and Collective. On the same day, Dipke announced that the CJP would launch an indefinite sit-in until the Union Education Minister, Dharmendra Pradhan, resigns, and compensation of Rs.1 crore is awarded to the family of every student who died by suicide due to the NEET leak and re-examination.

As night fell, most protesters dispersed, leaving only a few hundred people at Jantar Mantar, the majority of whom were affiliated with Left organisations. Their principal concern was the prospect of police action: the Delhi Police could be heard every 15–20 minutes urging protesters to vacate the premises. A recurring criticism of Abhijeet Dipke has been that he requires constant comfort and shade, with several videos circulating on social media purporting to show him checking into luxury hotels. A spot check by Frontline on the night of June 20, however, found Dipke at the centre of the stage, singing alongside fellow protesters and sustaining morale among the gathering.

When the farmers showed up

In the days that followed, the protest began to wane, with attendance declining steadily, prompting the CJP to seek support from other quarters. The party appealed to farmer unions to back the youth-led agitation. The Bharatiya Kisan Union (Charuni faction), led by farmer leader Gurnam Singh Charuni, was the first major union to officially extend its support. Members of the Bharatiya Kisan Union–Dhan Singh Kotwal also joined, travelling from Meerut to express solidarity.

Speaking to Frontline, Harsh Jatav, National Youth Chairman of the Bharatiya Kisan Union–Dhan Singh Kotwal, argued that student concerns warrant the backing of farmers, since the two sets of issues are closely bound. “When we saw that they [CJP] had appealed to the farming community, we extended our support straight away. Even if their demands do not directly concern farmers, we too have children, and they too are affected by paper leaks.”

Referring to videos from Bihar showing general train compartments packed well beyond capacity, with students struggling to breathe, Mohammed Arsalan, a first-time protester from Kanpur, voiced his frustration at what he saw as the government’s disregard for students. “For any religious event, the government will arrange special trains. But it will never run special trains for students who have to travel to other cities to sit their examinations.” He remained cautiously hopeful about the movement’s impact. “I am not sure if the Minister will resign, but one can at least hope that such paper leaks will not recur as frequently. Perhaps the authorities will tighten the way these agencies operate,” he added.

A recurring criticism of the CJP has been the lack of female representation within the organisation. Among its three spokespersons and founder, there is no prominent woman at the forefront. Yet for many CJP supporters—including women—this does not appear to be a pressing concern. “What if there is no female face? Abhijeet is raising the right issues, and that is enough. There are women protesters here; you can see women from Left organisations sharing the stage with the CJP,” said Yasmeen, a student at Delhi University.

The question of structure

Aishe Ghosh, All India Joint Secretary of the SFI, expressed a similar view. “First of all, I do not see the CJP as a political party; we are very clear about that. It is a movement, and we have joined it as such. If you look at the movement and those participating in it, there are many women involved. So, in that sense, there is no misrepresentation of women,” she told Frontline. “Since we are not officially quoted as CJP spokespersons, they should, if they are considering any formal structure or forum, genuinely reflect on representation. I have heard the argument that women are subjected to bullying and targeted abuse, and perhaps that is why some are reluctant to come forward — but that is ultimately their choice.”

Ghosh added that representation remains important, and that all those involved in the movement are also being targeted. “If you look at our social media, we are being trolled, branded as agents, and subjected to the same kind of abuse that happened in JNU. But we have to navigate that, because it is the reality; we cannot simply retreat from it.” If the CJP eventually develops some kind of structure or formal organisation, she said, she would expect it to include representation. “But from what I know, it does not have an organisational structure at present. It is still an organic movement.”

On farmer unions joining the agitation, Ghosh argued that such alliances are a routine feature of protest movements. “Any movement has always either extended support to other movements or sought support from them. So, as a student activist, I do not see any problem if farmer unions are offering support or joining us for a day. It is not harmful to the movement.”

She underscored that education is not an issue confined to students alone. Farmers have children. Teachers have children. Working people across professions have children. And those children often attend government schools. In today’s India, it is the most marginalised sections of society whose children rely on public education. “Yet this government has, over the past several years, shut down thousands of public schools. So how can those in power accuse us of being wrong to call upon farmers?” she asked.

Ghosh also stressed the need for structural change, arguing that the success of any movement lies not only in whether its demands are accepted, but in whether those demands produce material transformation. She pointed to the cultural impact a movement can leave behind. “The farmers’ movement is remembered so positively not only because it compelled the Modi government to repeal the farm laws, but because it also left a deep political imprint on public consciousness. It made people understand how the corporatisation of agriculture can be damaging. That is the beauty of a movement.”

In a recent interview, Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan attacked the protesters, describing the group as the “B-team of disruptive elements” and claiming that those rejected by voters were operating under a different guise to target India’s institutions. He accused them of fomenting national division and obstructing India’s development.

For Ashutosh Ranka, official spokesperson for the CJP, the movement remains “the only shot at fixing our education system”. Speaking to Frontline, Ranka appealed to unions across the spectrum to back the agitation. “Farmers in particular —because, just like the students and the youth of this country, farmers, labourers, and mazdoors (workers) have also been treated like insects. They have been treated like parasites in this country. We need their support now.”

Responding to questions about why the movement is not yet calling for broader policy or structural change, Ranka said this was only the beginning. “If you are talking about reforming a system, the person running that system has to be held responsible. He or she has to be accountable. This is just the beginning. The fight is a long one. We have many dreams for this country, and we will work towards them. The first step is to ensure that a responsible person occupies that ministry.”

“The demand for Rs.1 crore in compensation to the families of the NEET victims is completely non-negotiable. Just meet these families. Talk to Akansha Chaturvedi. Her parents took out a loan through the Kisan Credit Card. Just think about what they must be going through right now. It was their only hope of upward mobility, and that has been snatched away. This is the bare minimum that can be done for them.”

Also Read | Will the BJP weather the Gen Z revolt?

Also Read | Anger is not an ideology