'Go Pradhan Go' chants ring out at Jantar Mantar as protesters bang thalis and chammach

Chants of "Go Pradhan Go" echoed through Jantar Mantar in Delhi on Saturday as protesters from the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) began banging plates with spoons, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

The demonstration, which commenced at 1 pm, saw a large number of participants carrying plates and spoons. This action marked the CJP's second significant mobilization following a June 6 gathering at the same location. CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke had urged supporters to bring the utensils as the group intensified its campaign against alleged exam paper leaks and student suicides.

Similar protests have been organized in other cities, including Pune, Lucknow, Amritsar, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Jaipur. Dipke humorously claimed that UNESCO research indicated the vibrations from banging plates could bring about significant change, drawing a parallel to a similar call during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The use of plates and spoons appeared to reference Prime Minister Narendra Modi's March 2020 appeal, when citizens were asked to clap and bang utensils to express gratitude to frontline workers. Dipke specifically requested participants bring these items for the protest.

Ahead of the demonstration, Dipke urged supporters on social media to bring plates and spoons, while CJP spokesperson Saurav Das appealed to artists and singers to join. Dipke also penned an open letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, expressing concerns over a growing crisis affecting students and demanding government accountability. He called for ₹1 crore compensation for the families of students who died by suicide amid examination-related controversies, claiming 11 students had taken their lives recently. The CJP reiterated its demand for Pradhan's removal over the NEET paper leak issue.

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The Cockroach Janta Party has been demanding the resignation of the education minister for the past month and has been protesting across the country for our demands. All that we students want is to see some accountability for the loss of lives.