India’s youth led Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has called on authorities to immediately release all protesters detained during recent nationwide demonstrations over alleged exam paper leaks. The movement warned that failing to free those arrested or withdraw criminal cases would damage public trust and could lead to further action.
The demand comes shortly after the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, whose departure followed days of large scale protests sparked by repeated irregularities in competitive examinations, including the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET). The resignation marked a significant political development after growing public pressure from students and youth groups across the country.
In a statement released on Monday, the CJP said it had received reports that several students remained in detention, particularly in the states of Assam, West Bengal, and Bihar. According to the group, government officials had earlier assured protest organizers that participants would not face punitive action for joining peaceful demonstrations. The organization now claims those assurances have not been honored.
The movement has rapidly gained national attention since its launch in May by Abhijeet Dipke, a public relations graduate. Through social media campaigns and public rallies, the group has attracted millions of supporters demanding greater transparency and accountability in India’s examination system.
Last week, tens of thousands of students gathered in New Delhi and several other cities, calling for reforms and stronger safeguards against examination fraud. However, tensions escalated when protesters attempted to march toward Parliament from the Jantar Mantar protest site. Police responded with tear gas and batons, leading to clashes and multiple detentions.
The issue also reached Parliament, where opposition lawmakers repeatedly interrupted proceedings while demanding answers from the government regarding the police response to the demonstrations. Despite the disruptions, the government introduced legislation proposing stricter penalties for those involved in examination paper leaks.
The Cockroach Janta Party has stated that it will continue monitoring the situation closely. The group insists that all detained protesters should be released and any criminal charges linked to peaceful demonstrations should be withdrawn. Activists argue that protecting the right to peaceful protest is essential for maintaining public confidence, democratic values, and accountability in India’s education system.
