Every district needs a Jantar Mantar: CJP's Saurav Das calls for nationwide protests
The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on Thursday said it wants to create "a Jantar Mantar in every district" as it announced nationwide protests on Friday
The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on Thursday said it wants to create "a Jantar Mantar in every district" as it announced nationwide protests on Friday to expand the agitation over the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak. The outfit accused the Centre of refusing to engage with students and protesters despite demonstrations continuing for over a month. In an exclusive interview with India Today, CJP spokesperson Saurav Das said the nationwide protests were aimed at taking the movement beyond Delhi. "The idea behind the nationwide protest is to create Jantar Mantars across India. Every district needs a Jantar Mantar because this government is not listening to students. It is not listening to protesters," Das said. Read Full Story He accused the Centre of letting "ego battles" derail dialogue even after protesters had remained on the streets for more than 30 days. "During elections, these people go door to door seeking votes. But when protesters have been on the streets for over 30 days, why doesn't the government want to meet them?
That is not how democracy works," he said. CJP INSISTS ON NEUTRAL VENUE FOR TALKS Das said the CJP remained open to talks with the Centre but would only meet government representatives at a neutral venue such as Jantar Mantar, Kerala House or the Constitution Club, rejecting meetings at government offices. He alleged that CJP leaders were effectively detained for nearly four hours during their previous meeting with Union Minister J P Nadda after being invited for what was expected to be a brief interaction. "We have told the government that either you come here or meet us at a mutual venue," he said. The Centre has maintained that it is ready for talks with the protesters, but the two sides remain divided over the venue for the next round of discussions. 'PRADHAN'S RESIGNATION IS NON-NEGOTIABLE' Das reiterated that the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan remained the movement's central demand. "Our demand for Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation is non-negotiable.
There is no way we are going to give up on that demand," he said. His remarks come a day after social activist Sonam Wangchuk said the government should "consider" Pradhan's resignation while outlining the conditions under which he would end his hunger strike. Das said Wangchuk's comments were specific to his fast and did not dilute the CJP's broader demands. 'WE ARE ONLY RESTORING DEMOCRACY' Responding to the government's warning that action could be taken against protesters violating the law, Das defended the nationwide agitation, saying demonstrators were only exercising their constitutional right to peaceful assembly. "The Constitution allows us the right to peacefully protest and assemble. We are asserting that right. If it is required across the country, we will do that too," he said. He said the agitation was seeking accountability for the alleged examination irregularities, the resignation of the Education Minister, education reforms and compensation for the families of students who allegedly died by suicide following the paper leak.
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