Cockroach Janta Party student protest ends with the Education Minister's resignation, and Punjab's farm unions join in

Who: The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), launched online on May 16, 2026 by Abhijeet Dipke; Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan; Union ministers J P Nadda and Jitendra Singh, who negotiated; and in Punjab the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), BKU (Ekta Ugrahan), the Akali Dal, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Sikhs for Justice.

What: The movement grew out of the cancelled NEET-UG medical entrance exam and a remark by the Chief Justice on May 15 about "cockroaches", which he said was aimed at people with fake degrees. After a first Jantar Mantar gathering on June 6, CJP began a sit-in there on June 20, and Sonam Wangchuk fasted for 26 days. On July 20 a march towards Parliament met tear gas and batons. Human Rights Watch called the force excessive and said telecom providers were reportedly ordered to suspend mobile internet, an order not made public, while Delhi Police said protesters attacked them with stones. On July 25 Pradhan resigned, saying he wished to stop "anti-national forces" exploiting the situation, and CJP called off the sit-in after talks. The announced terms were withdrawal of FIRs, "honourable" compensation within the rules for families of students who died by suicide, and consideration of a five-point exam reform charter. CJP spokesperson Saurav Das said all demands had been accepted and the sit-in was withdrawn "in good faith", expecting the terms to be carried out.

In Punjab, Dipke paid obeisance at Sri Harmandir Sahib under police escort before a rally at Golden Gate, Amritsar, on June 13, saying the movement could not be completed without Punjabis. The Tribune gave no headcount. On July 4 the SKM wrote its solidarity, and a delegation visited Jantar Mantar on July 5. On July 21 Mann accused the Centre of beating young protesters. Sukhbir Singh Badal, urging the Centre to resolve the students' grievances, accused Mann of "fake solidarity" given leaks in Punjab's own recruitment exams. On July 22 Sikhs for Justice, banned under the UAPA, announced financial support on condition that CJP refuse talks; ETV Bharat found no confirmation of a meeting or of money, and reported no CJP reply. On July 24 BKU (Ekta Ugrahan) said it would go to Delhi on July 27, adding "We are already late." The next day CJP withdrew.

Where: Jantar Mantar and the Parliament route in Delhi; Golden Gate, Amritsar.

Why it mattered: A Union Cabinet minister resigned in the middle of a student protest that had run for 36 days. For Punjab it showed farm unions again joining a national protest, and a banned Sikh organisation announcing support for it.