Inside the CJP protest: Anger, anxiety and a demand for accountability

New Delhi,UPDATED: Jun 6, 2026 19:09 IST

Maahvir is a Class 12 CBSE pass-out. He has applied to foreign universities for his undergraduate studies. But what angers him is the evaluation process adopted by the CBSE through its On-Screen Marking (OSM) system. Right next to him stands his younger sister, Saanvi, trying to process everything unfolding around them.

It's the morning of June 6 at Jantar Mantar. Abhijeet Dipke's supporters have gathered at Delhi's designated and iconic protest site. The crowd is still pouring in, the temperature is soaring, and the humidity is rising.

It's the first time Maahvir and Saanvi have attended a protest.

"There was no need for an OSM system. They imposed it on teachers working from remote locations. They should have conducted large-scale trials over a period of time. But they didn't. Who got impacted because of it? We students," Maahvir said.

Expressing his frustration with the system, he added, "My answer sheet was missing a couple of pages. Even if my marks fall short by three or four marks, it could cost me my seat. The problem is that I can't even apply for re-evaluation and change my marksheet in my university application."

Saanvi, a Class 8 student, said she is closely watching what happened to her brother and his friends.

"If this can happen to them, I am next in line. I will also appear for Class 10 and Class 12 exams. We need to protest and seek accountability," she said, possibly one of the youngest protesters at Jantar Mantar.

Notably, their parents supported the decision to attend the CJP protest. Maahvir's father, Harsh, said seeking accountability from the government and ministers is necessary. "We can't watch them play with the future of our children," he said.

In the initial hours of the protest, Jantar Mantar witnessed an overwhelming presence of content creators and YouTubers, each serving their own agenda and hunting for content.

Amid the chaos created by these YouTubers, Om Shankar tried to make sense of the events unfolding around him.

When asked what brought him there, Shankar, a man in his 50s, had a simple answer: "My daughter."

"My daughter appeared for NEET-UG. The paper got leaked. The re-exam will happen on June 21, but what's the assurance that it won't be compromised again?" Om Shankar asked.

"She says, 'What if the rich and powerful are once again able to misuse the system in their favour?'"

He then took out his phone to show another entrance exam admit card for a research programme that his daughter has now chosen to pursue.

During CJP's first protest, Abhijeet Dipke and his supporters repeatedly demanded the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. But possibly, even the organisers failed to realise how significant the CBSE-OSM glitch issue was for affected students and parents. Or perhaps they simply lacked the bandwidth to absorb the scale of the grievances during their protest debut.

When Dipke reached Jantar Mantar, there was no stage and no proper public announcement system in place. He sat on the ground and tried addressing supporters through a feeble sound system, while content creators continued to exploit the moment in small and large groups across different corners of Jantar Mantar.

By noon, an impromptu stage had been set up. CJP supporters literally climbed the barricades to hold the backdrop in place. Dipke's supporters lifted him onto their shoulders and carried him to the stage. As he approached it, he waved at the crowd with Babasaheb Ambedkar's book in one hand.

Soon, a series of speeches began, including addresses by climate and education activist Sonam Wangchuk.

Notably, the Delhi Police was in a different avatar on Friday. Officers remained polite with protesters. Announcements urging the Gen Z crowd to move towards designated areas and maintain order were made in English. Materials for the stage, speakers, flex boards and banners were not obstructed either.

As a result, Dipke and his team, despite minimal preparations, had a relatively smooth experience during the June 6 protest.

Meanwhile, Dipke has threatened a nationwide agitation if Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan does not resign over paper leaks and the CBSE-OSM glitches.

CONGRESS ANGRY, KEJRIWAL BACKS CJP

The Congress ecosystem has maintained a distance from the Cockroach protest and the social media movement, to say the least.

Supriya Shrinate, Congress' senior media and communications strategist, made a veiled attack on Dipke and the CJP. She questioned how a certain set of protesters appeared to receive facilitation during the protest while the NSUI had faced hurdles during its agitation over paper leaks. She also reminded people that Rahul Gandhi has consistently stood with Gen Z on such issues.

Meanwhile, Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal has openly backed the CJP movement.

"The cockroach movement is an expression of the huge anger and frustration experienced by the youth of this country. Rather than terming them anti-national, the Modi government should address their issues. AAP supports their demands. The Prime Minister must sack the education minister immediately," Kejriwal said while endorsing Shiv Sena (UBT)'s support for the CJP protest.

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