Prakash Raj, At Cockroach Janta Party's Bengaluru Rally, Tells Netas: 'Ruling After Retirement Age, Go Away'

Last Updated:June 15, 2026, 07:40 IST

The actor joined CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke and activist Sonam Wangchuk at Freedom Park, demanding Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation over the NEET paper leak.

Actor Prakash Raj joined hundreds of young protesters at Freedom Park in Bengaluru, braving torrential rain to stand alongside Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke and activist Sonam Wangchuk in demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged NEET paper leak and examination irregularities.

The Sunday rally marked the latest stop in the CJP’s nationwide protest circuit — and came even as Raj faces separate allegations in a Karnataka High Court petition linked to the Dharmasthala mass burial controversy.

Addressing the rain-soaked crowd, Raj urged elected leaders to step aside and let the next generation reclaim its future.

The Bengaluru demonstration is part of a rolling series of CJP protests sweeping the country, with the group now calling for a mass mobilisation at Jantar Mantar on June 20.

What Prakash Raj Said At The Protest

Taking the mic at Freedom Park, Raj made no attempt to soften his message. “The elected leaders should do their jobs. Why have you changed the equation? You are doing politics, we are supposed to do jobs. No! Youth of this country has decided to fight their fight," he said.

Turning his fire on veteran politicians, he added: “Youth of this country is Dalit. Uncles and aunties, you are ruling this country after retirement age. Go away. We the youngsters are fighting for our future. These youngsters are fighting for their dreams."

Raj had earlier posted on X that he was travelling to Bengaluru to “support this relevant peaceful protest" and called on others to join and hold the government accountable for its failures.

CJP’s Protest Trail Across India

The Freedom Park rally follows a string of demonstrations the CJP has organised across the country. The group made its presence felt with a large turnout at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on June 6, before moving to Pune (June 11), Lucknow (June 12) and Amritsar (June 13). Bengaluru was the latest city to witness the protests, with another major mobilisation at Jantar Mantar planned for June 20.

What The CJP Is Demanding

The group has been calling for Pradhan’s resignation over the alleged NEET question paper leak, irregularities in the CBSE’s on-screen marking system, and broader examination-related lapses. Speaking in Lucknow, Dipke said the protests would not stop until the education minister stepped down, and appealed to students to join the June 20 gathering peacefully.

The Dharmasthala Cloud

The Bengaluru protest comes even as Raj faces allegations in a separate case before the Karnataka High Court. A sanitation worker has petitioned the court claiming that Raj — via activist Girish Mattannavar — contacted him over the phone and instructed him to make false statements implicating Dharmasthala Dharmadhikari Veerendra Heggade in a fictitious mass burial.

The petitioner further alleged threats, physical assault, and a conspiracy funded from Kerala and Chitradurga, with a budget reportedly pegged at around Rs 200 crore.

He has accused the SIT of failing to act on his complaint filed in December 2025. Justice Suraj Govindaraj has issued notices to the state government and the SIT, scheduling the next hearing for June 29.

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