New Delhi, July 21 Abhijit Dipke, founder of the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), has strongly condemned the Delhi Police for allegedly using excessive force against students during a march from Jantar Mantar to Parliament. Addressing the media, Dipke announced that while the Parliament march was cancelled mid-way to ensure student safety, the ongoing agitation and hunger strike led by Sonam Wangchuk will continue until Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigns. Speaking to IANS, Dipke claimed that the protest was entirely peaceful, yet the police initiated a brutal lathi-charge, injuring many students.

He alleged that female students were also subjected to mistreatment near the barricades, with reports of head injuries, broken limbs, and other serious wounds. “Our students were determined to march to Parliament despite the risks, but we had to prioritise their safety to prevent any major tragedy,” he said. Meanwhile, Delhi Police said more than 100 of its personnel received injuries during the students’ protest. Dipke questioned the government’s intentions, especially after a meeting with Union Minister J.P. Nadda. The CJP leader also reacted to the FIR registered against activist Saurabh Das, demanding that if action is taken against protesters, the Education Minister should also be held accountable for the NEET-UG controversies that have led to multiple student suicides. Despite the police action, Dipke welcomed the opposition parties for raising the NEET-UG issue in Parliament on the first day of the Monsoon Session.

“The opposition kept its promise to the students. However, our protest will not stop. We will continue raising our voices until Dharmendra Pradhan resigns,” he asserted. The cancellation of the march to Parliament comes after thousands of students and supporters gathered at Jantar Mantar to demand systemic reforms to the examination process and accountability for repeated paper leaks. Dipke expressed gratitude to the opposition parties for raising the NEET-UG issue in Parliament on the first day of the Monsoon Session. He noted that the opposition had kept its promise to the students by bringing up the matter in the House. However, he made it clear that the agitation and protests would continue until Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigns.

Activist Sonam Wangchuk, who was removed from Jantar Mantar on Saturday by Delhi Police and admitted for medical care, declared in a handwritten note on Monday that he would continue his fast, now in its 23rd day, until protesting student leaders were allowed to meet Parliamentarians or he himself was permitted to meet them in hospital. “I will continue my fast (Day 23),” he wrote in a signed statement from Safdarjung Hospital, adding that seeing the brutality with which peacefully protesting youth were being dealt with, he had decided to continue his fast until the youth leaders were allowed to meet Parliamentarians at Sansad Bhavan or he was allowed to meet them at the hospital.

He expressed hope that the government would fix the Education Minister’s accountability before that. The protestors were sitting in a demonstration at Jantar Mantar, demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and seeking urgent reforms in India’s education system. The protest, led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), grew louder after Wangchuk’s forced hospitalisation. His health condition sparked concern among supporters, who praised his determination but urged authorities to engage constructively with the youth’s grievances. Police had to forcibly stop the agitating students from storming the Parliament building on Monday. CJP members staged the march seeking to amplify their demands for accountability and dialogue with MPs.

“I am touched and moved by how the youth have held on to peace despite provocation, and I appeal to the government and police force to resolve the issue by simply allowing the students to present their grievances before Parliament today or tomorrow. I am sure the young protesters will show the same patience and tolerance tomorrow as they did today,” Wangchuk added in the statement, released on social media platform X. The protests began as a response to India’s Chief Justice Surya Kant allegedly comparing unemployed young people taking up activism to cockroaches and parasites, but have now grown into an active movement. They picked up momentum after the NEET medical entrance exam was cancelled following a leak, and reports emerged about students committing suicide.