In a significant change of plan, Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke has urged his supporters not to gather at the Indira Gandhi International Airport to receive him upon his arrival from the United States on June 6 .
The appeal comes just two days before the planned protest at Jantar Mantar, where Dipke intends to lead a peaceful demonstration demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET paper leak controversy and other examination-related issues .
‘Overwhelming response beyond our imagination’
In a video message posted on X, Dipke explained that the massive response to his earlier call for supporters to meet him at the airport had exceeded all expectations .
“The overwhelming response from those who want the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan to our call to join us at Delhi Airport was beyond our imagination,” Dipke said .
He clarified that a large gathering at the airport could disrupt normal operations and create difficulties for both travellers and security personnel. “It is not feasible for so many people to assemble at the airport as it would cause inconvenience to the public and the security forces. So please do not come to Delhi airport,” he stated .
Revised plan: Directly to police station
Instead of an airport reception, Dipke announced that he will travel directly from the airport to the Parliament Street Police Station to personally seek permission for the proposed demonstration at Jantar Mantar .
“We are law abiding citizens and have to act responsibly. So please be mindful that nobody should create any kind of disturbance,” he added .
The CJP founder has previously acknowledged that he may face arrest upon his return to India. “I am pretty confident there will be consequences upon my return,” he had told Times of India earlier, while expressing his determination to exercise his fundamental right to protest .
Protest demands and timing
The June 6 protest, scheduled to be held at Jantar Mantar, seeks the immediate resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over what Dipke has described as repeated failures in the country’s examination system .
The demands are linked to controversies surrounding major examinations, including NEET, CBSE, CUET, and SSC-GD, which Dipke says have affected the futures of millions of students .
However, the protest faces a procedural hurdle. Under existing rules, applications seeking permission for public protests in Delhi are generally required to be submitted at least seven days in advance . CJP has yet to apply for the necessary clearance.
CJP spokesperson Vijeta Dahiya explained that the delay in seeking permission was part of the “organisation’s strategy.” “People’s emotion is driving the protest, and currently they are attached with Abhijeet (Dipke), that’s why we have taken a call that Abhijeet will seek permission from the police in person on June 6,” Dahiya told Hindustan Times .
Support from activists
The protest has garnered support from notable personalities. Education reform activist Sonam Wangchuk has announced that he will join the June 6 demonstration if the Education Minister does not resign by June 5 .
“I spoke to CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke. After talking to him, I felt his intentions are not wrong. He is a patriot and wants change,” Wangchuk said in a video message .
Background of the movement
Dipke launched the Cockroach Janta Party on May 16, following Chief Justice of India Surya Kant’s oral observation comparing certain unemployed youth to “cockroaches” . The satirical movement quickly went viral, amassing over 22 million followers on Instagram .
The original CJP X account was blocked under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act following inputs from the Intelligence Bureau . Dipke has challenged the block before the Delhi High Court, with the next hearing scheduled for July 7 .
As the June 6 protest approaches, all eyes remain on whether the Delhi Police will grant permission for the demonstration and how the authorities will respond to Dipke’s arrival.
