The protests at Jantar Mantar spearheaded by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and the one at Ranchi in Jharkhand are both led by students over examination irregularities.
After a prolonged silence, Indian youth have finally awakened to the harsh realities and injustices they have endured for years, thanks to the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), a Gen Z-led satirical online movement, that gave voice to growing discontent over systemic mismanagement by spearheading a series of protests in the national capital, challenging the existing education system and demanding accountability for examination irregularities. Not long after the agitation at Jantar Mantar was called off following the acceptance of some of the protesters’ key demands, including resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, a similar situation has unfolded in Ranchi, the capital of Jharkhand. Though the two agitations took place in different places and under different governments, they bear an uncanny resemblance. The protest at Jantar Mantar was triggered by the alleged leak of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET-UG) 2026 question paper. The National Testing Agency (NTA) was subsequently forced to conduct a nationwide re-examination on June 21, causing immense inconvenience and hardship to lakhs of students, particularly those from economically weaker families. Reports of students taking the extreme step of ending their lives further underscored the devastating human cost of examination irregularities. The ongoing protest in Ranchi is also triggered by alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations conducted by the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC). Thousands of students and job aspirants have taken to the streets demanding accountability; they have demanded cancellation of several recruitment examinations, a CBI probe into the alleged irregularities and greater transparency in the recruitment process.
Both agitations-- at Jantar Mantar and Ranchi – have also been marked by hunger strikes and police brutality, as peaceful protestors were met with lathi charges, tear gas and water cannons. And as expected, political parties have not shied away from attempting to score brownie points from these episodes—one in Delhi under the BJP-led NDA government and the other in Jharkhand under the Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance), which includes the Indian National Congress. But such partisan politics only weakens the larger cause. What we are witnessing today is a classic case of the pot calling the kettle black. Governments, regardless of political affiliation, have failed the youth of the nation by undermining their rights and eroding public confidence in institutions responsible for conducting examinations. Be it at Jantar Mantar or Ranchi, excessive use of force against unarmed protesters is unacceptable and inhuman. Those in power must be held accountable for any police excesses against students. The state cannot abuse its power to hush the dissent and grievances of the youth. All that the protesters are asking for is accountability, meaningful education reforms, and a fair recruitment process that provides equal opportunities for all. Is that too much to ask? What is required is to rise above party lines and ideological differences and find a lasting solution to issues at hand. Playing with the lives of students – the future of the nation – is akin to playing with fire. The episodes at Jantar Mantar and Ranchi also should serve as a wake-up call for governments across the country. The message is clear: Gen Z won’t tolerate injustice any longer.