Amritsar: The Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) organized its inaugural rally in Amritsar on Saturday, where supporters reiterated their demand for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
Upon arriving at Amritsar airport, party founder Abhijeet Dipke visited the Golden Temple to pay his respects before proceeding to Golden Gate, where supporters had gathered for the demonstration.
Addressing the media, Dipke claimed that the turnout in Amritsar would surpass the crowds seen at earlier protests in Pune and Delhi. However, actual attendance remained moderate and did not meet the organizers' projections.
When asked about his delayed arrival at the protest site, Dipke explained that he had reached Amritsar on time but was stuck in traffic. He noted that no security cover or police escort had been provided to them.
At the protest site, Dipke led the crowd in chanting slogans such as 'Dharmendra Pradhan Istifa Do' (Dharmendra Pradhan, resign), 'Inquilab Zindabad', 'Vande Mataram', and 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai'. Interestingly, many participants were reportedly associated with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
When TOI contacted AAP's Gurdaspur district president Joban, his associate Preet answered the phone, saying Joban was in a meeting. Preet stated that he had participated in the protest in his personal capacity.
Expressing support for CJP's concerns, Preet said thousands of students who prepared for NEET were suffering due to the government's mishandling of the examination process.
Kamna Anand, president of AAP's women's wing in Amritsar, denied attending the protest but confirmed that her husband, Monu Anand, AAP's coordinator for the South Assembly Constituency, did. She said the issue transcends political affiliations and affects students, families, and young people across the country.
"It's not the issue of any single political party. It concerns every family and every youth whose career is at stake because of a flawed examination system," she said, adding: "As Indian citizens, this issue belongs to all of us and should not be viewed through a political lens."
