Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke on Thursday appealed to Delhi Police to allow temporary tents at Jantar Mantar, where students protesting against alleged examination irregularities and paper leaks have been staging a hunger strike despite continuous rainfall.

A video shared by Dipke on social media showed him requesting permission from police personnel and touching their feet while urging them to allow shelters for the students. According to Dipke, the protesters have been getting drenched in the rain, making the hunger strike increasingly difficult.

In his post, Dipke said the request was made purely on humanitarian grounds, stating that students participating in the indefinite hunger strike needed protection from the weather. He appealed to authorities to permit temporary tents so that protesters could continue their demonstration safely.

The Cockroach Janata Party has been holding protests at Delhi's Jantar Mantar since 20 June, demanding action over alleged irregularities in competitive examinations, including the alleged NEET paper leak. The party is also seeking the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, accusing the government of failing to ensure transparency in recruitment and entrance examinations.

Social activist Sonam Wangchuk, who has joined the agitation, has reportedly been on a hunger strike for the past 12 days at the protest site. The continuing rainfall in the national capital has added to the challenges faced by protesters camping at the venue.

Protest expands beyond Delhi

According to the party, demonstrations supporting the movement have also been organised in multiple cities across the country. The campaign has focused on demanding greater accountability in examination systems and stronger safeguards against alleged paper leaks.

Party's unusual origins

The Cockroach Janata Party was launched in May 2026 following remarks made by Chief Justice Surya Kant during a court hearing on 15 May. During the proceedings, the Chief Justice reportedly referred to some unemployed youth as "cockroaches" who later become media persons, social media influencers or RTI activists and challenge the system.

The remark sparked widespread debate online. The following day, Abhijeet Dipke announced the formation of the Cockroach Janata Party and launched its social media presence.

On 22 May, Dipke also initiated an online petition seeking the resignation of the Union Education Minister over alleged failures in handling examination-related controversies. The campaign reportedly received support from more than eight lakh people.

Rapid social media growth

The newly formed political outfit has witnessed an unprecedented rise on social media. According to figures shared by the party, its Instagram following crossed 2.79 crore, making it one of the country's most-followed political organisations on the platform.

About Abhijeet Dipke

Abhijeet Dipke, 30, hails from Sambhaji Nagar in Maharashtra and studied journalism in Pune. A digital media strategist by profession, he is currently pursuing a Master's degree in Public Relations at Boston University in the United States. He has previously been associated with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) before launching the Cockroach Janata Party.

The Delhi Police has not officially responded to Dipke's request for permission to install temporary tents at the protest site. The agitation continues at Jantar Mantar amid intermittent rain, with protesters reiterating their demand for reforms in the country's examination system.