'Pradhan's birthday cake can't be baked with children's blood': Mahua Moitra joins CJP protest

NEW DELHI: Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP, Mahua Moitra, on Friday joined the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest at Jantar Mantar, expressing solidarity with activist Sonam Wangchuk, who is on a hunger strike demanding accountability from the Union education minister.Addressing protesters at the demonstration, Moitra criticised the Centre, saying, "These shameless people are drunk on the high of power. They can't see what's happening around them."Targeting Dharmendra Pradhan, she said, "His birthday cake can't be baked with the blood of our children. Don't let them label you, your only label is 'Hindustani'. Don't give up. Stay true to the cause. Jai Hind."

The remark appeared to be a sarcastic response to Union education minister’s birthday celebrations on June 26, as students continued protesting for his resignation over alleged paper leaks and his description of the protesters as the "B team of terrorists."‘Blood in his hands’: DipkeDipke, while criticising Pradhan’s remark, wrote, "Dharmendra Pradhan calls us terrorists. But the irony is that he is the one with the blood of more than 17 students on his hands.""Sir, we are not terrorists. We don't need a certificate of patriotism from people like you who are responsible for the deaths of innocent students," he added further.

Political leaders and actors extend supportThe CJP protest has drawn support from political leaders and members of the film industry. Earlier, on July 1, TMC leader Sagarika Ghose joined the protesters at Jantar Mantar. In a post on X, she said, "The arrogant failed @narendramodi government is STILL refusing to listen to the people and has lost all public legitimacy."

Even as major opposition parties stopped short of backing the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), Aam Aadmi Party’s Arvind Kejriwal and Uddhav Thackeray of Shiv Sena (UBT) expressed support for the movement.

Bollywood actors Prakash Raj and Atul Kulkarni have also backed the protest against alleged irregularities in India's education and examination system. Sharing a message for the young demonstrators, Kulkarni wrote, "May you reshape this country with integrity and compassion.

My heartfelt good wishes to you all."

The protest, which has continued for the past two weeks, has drawn support from activists, students and political leaders. Wangchuk has maintained that he will continue his hunger strike until action is taken on his demands.As of now, there has been no official response from the Centre regarding Moitra's remarks or the latest developments surrounding the protest.