CJP Founder Abhijeet Dipke Marks Dharmendra Pradhan’s Birthday With ‘Please Resign’ Message Amid Protest

As his protest demanding Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation entered its seventh day on Friday, Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke marked the minister’s birthday with a pointed message at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar.

In a video from the protest site, Dipke is seen writing on a whiteboard: “Happy Birthday, Pradhan. Please resign,” while supporters sing the birthday song in the background.

After writing the message, Dipke said, “A very happy birthday to you, Dharmendra Pradhan. Do us a favour and resign. As a birthday gift, we can even send you the resignation letter—you’ll only have to put your thumb on it.”

Protest at Jantar Mantar continues

Dipke has been leading a sit-in protest at Jantar Mantar, seeking Pradhan’s resignation over alleged irregularities in competitive examinations and the NEET paper leak controversy. The protest has continued for seven days, with Dipke refusing to leave the site.

On the fifth day of the protest, Dipke appeared before a committee of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) regarding the withholding of the group’s X account.

He questioned why authorities had not explained the reason behind the action and compared it with the handling of the NEET paper leak issue.

“Everything is confidential; you should have kept the NEET paper confidential as well. Why did that leak? These suicides would not have happened,” he said.

Targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Dipke said, “The PM cannot take a resignation but claims to have stopped the Russia-Ukraine war. Can he stop paper leaks?”

Holding Pradhan responsible for student deaths, he added, “Who is responsible for the suicides? It is Dharmendra Pradhan.”

Dipke claimed that at least 17 students have died by suicide in connection with the NEET paper leak issue.

He also alleged that the government had not reached out for discussions, saying, “They are calling us terrorists instead.”

“Are we asking for votes? We are asking for justice. We are taxpayers, our parents are taxpayers, and you call us terrorists. Are you not ashamed?” he said.

Sonam Wangchuk announces hunger strike

Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk announced on Thursday that he would begin an indefinite hunger strike at Jantar Mantar from June 28 if the government does not respond to demands linked to the alleged NEET paper leak.

In a video posted on X, Wangchuk said he would wait until June 27 for a response from the government and begin the fast the following day if no satisfactory action was taken.

Wangchuk, who is currently in Geneva, recorded the message outside the United Nations Office at Geneva, describing the protest area there as a global equivalent of Delhi’s Jantar Mantar.

Standing near the Broken Chair monument, he said his concerns include accountability in education and environmental governance.

“I am currently at Geneva city’s Jantar Mantar, that is, the area in front of the United Nations where full permission is given for demonstrations,” he said.

Urging the Centre to respond, Wangchuk said, “If I do not receive a response on either of these issues by Saturday, I will sit on a hunger strike with all of you.”

Wangchuk has supported Dipke and the CJP’s demand for Pradhan’s resignation since the protests began. He attended the group’s first protest on June 6 and has appeared at several demonstrations since.