Cockroach Janata Party Protests NEET Leak in Hyderabad, Bengaluru

Cockroach Janata Party, the Gen Z-driven political group formed over the NEET paper leak, held protests in Hyderabad and Bengaluru on Sunday. Demonstrators demanded Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation. The party said the leak and irregularities in CBSE's On-Screen Marking system show the government failed students.

Hyderabad's Dharna Chowk drew more than 1,000 people. Education reformer Sonam Wangchuk and political analyst K Nageshwar attended. Wangchuk told the crowd he is not interested in power. "My struggle is only against the injustice done to students," he said.

Hyderabad-based activist Ruchit Kamal ran the gathering. "We take inspiration from the martyrs of the Telangana movement," Kamal said.

Bengaluru's protest, held at Freedom Park under heavy rain, drew a few hundred. Actors Prakash Raj and Kiran Srinivas, wildlife filmmakers Krupakar B S and Senani Hegde, and environmentalist Nagesh Hegde backed the event. Some Left and Dalit organisations also offered support.

CJP plans a protest in Jaipur on June 15. The party is still building its nationwide campaign around education accountability.

The NEET paper leak and OSM irregularities have triggered student anger across several states. CJP's Gen Z base has used social media to organise quickly. Whether the protests translate into political momentum will depend on the government's response, the party's ability to sustain attention, and the Education Ministry's next steps.