New Delhi, July 24: The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on Friday declared that its nationwide agitation will continue despite social activist Sonam Wangchuk ending his 26-day hunger strike, reiterating that Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation remains the movement’s primary objective.
Addressing the media in the national capital, CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke welcomed Wangchuk’s decision to call off his fast following assurances from the government but stressed that the larger campaign seeking accountability for alleged examination irregularities is far from over.
Dipke said the party was relieved that Wangchuk had prioritised his health after nearly four weeks of fasting, describing his contribution to the movement as invaluable. However, he asserted that ending the hunger strike does not signal the conclusion of the protest.
“The movement will continue until Dharmendra Pradhan resigns. We are happy that Sonam Wangchuk has ended his hunger strike because his health and life are important for the country, but our demand remains unchanged,” Dipke said.
He further maintained that any future engagement with the Central government must take place at a neutral venue, arguing that discussions should be conducted in an impartial environment. According to him, the party is unwilling to compromise on its principal demand for the Education Minister’s resignation.
Echoing the same position, CJP representative Ashutosh Ranka announced that demonstrations at Jantar Mantar would continue without interruption. He said the party would intensify its campaign until the government accepts responsibility by replacing the Union Education Minister.
Ranka also informed reporters that senior party leaders were scheduled to hold discussions with BJP president JP Nadda later in the day, with Union Minister Jitendra Singh also expected to participate. He added that the outcome of the meeting would be shared during a scheduled press conference.
While acknowledging that Wangchuk had ended his fast after receiving certain assurances from the Centre, Ranka said the protest’s broader mission remains focused on restoring public confidence in the country’s examination system.
Referring to a video message released by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Ranka claimed that the government was beginning to feel increasing public pressure over the issue. He argued that decisive action against those responsible for examination controversies would be the strongest signal of the Centre’s commitment to students and young job aspirants.
According to him, merely announcing procedural reforms or legal measures would not be enough to address widespread concerns among students who believe they have repeatedly suffered due to alleged lapses in recruitment and examination processes.
CJP spokesperson Deepak Balyan also reaffirmed the party’s stand, saying that the protest would continue indefinitely until Dharmendra Pradhan vacates office. He dismissed the government’s assurances regarding fast-track courts and legal action as inadequate, stating that young people expect concrete accountability rather than promises.
Balyan said many students and job aspirants have lost faith in official assurances after repeated controversies surrounding competitive examinations in recent years. He claimed the movement has gained significant support from youth across the country who are demanding greater transparency and accountability in the education and recruitment systems.
The CJP has been organising demonstrations at Jantar Mantar over alleged irregularities in competitive examinations and has consistently demanded political accountability from the Union government. Although Sonam Wangchuk’s decision to conclude his hunger strike marked an important development in the protest, party leaders insisted that their larger campaign would continue until their central demand is fulfilled.
With discussions between government representatives and protest leaders expected to continue, attention now remains focused on whether the ongoing dialogue can help bridge differences or whether the agitation will intensify further in the coming days.