Cockroach Janata Party Plans Massive Gathering at Jantar Mantar, Demands Dharmendra Pradhan’s Resignation; Tight Security Arrangements in Place
New Delhi: The historic Jantar Mantar in the national capital is set to witness an unusual and digitally driven protest movement today. A large demonstration has been called under the banner of the social media-based organization Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), a satirical digital collective that has recently gained significant online attention.
The movement’s founder, Abhijeet Dipke, arrived in Delhi directly from the United States at around 7:30 a.m. Upon his arrival, he appealed to his supporters—whom he refers to as “Cockroaches”—to gather directly at Jantar Mantar. In a post on social media platform X, Dipke wrote, “All Cockroaches should come directly to Jantar Mantar and not to Parliament Street Police Station. We will begin our peaceful protest at 10 a.m.”
The official CJP social media handle also shared a photograph featuring founder Abhijeet Dipke and party spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka after their arrival in Delhi. In the image, Dipke is seen holding a copy of the autobiography of social reformer Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.
According to CJP, the protest has been organized to demand the resignation of Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The group has adopted the slogan: “With full support for the Constitution of India, Cockroaches will gather at Jantar Mantar from 10 a.m. Cockroaches are coming, Dharmendra Pradhan is going.”
Confusion Over Protest Permission
Questions have emerged regarding whether the protest has received official permission, with conflicting claims from the organizers and police authorities.
CJP’s Claim:
According to a purported approval letter reportedly obtained by media outlets, CJP claims that Delhi Police granted written permission for a peaceful demonstration at Jantar Mantar from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The document is said to bear the signature of Abhijeet Dipke. Based on this claim, supporters have been asked to proceed directly to the protest venue.
Delhi Police Sources:
However, according to sources cited by news agency PTI, Delhi Police officials have stated that they have not received any formal written request for the protest. Despite this, authorities remain on high alert due to the extensive social media activity surrounding the event.
Tight Security Across Delhi
Given the possibility of a large turnout, Delhi Police has deployed substantial security personnel at Jantar Mantar since early morning. Barricades and additional law enforcement arrangements have been put in place to maintain order.
Security measures have also been intensified across the city. Additional police forces have been stationed at Indira Gandhi International Airport, major border entry points into Delhi, and other sensitive locations as a precautionary measure to ensure law and order.
As this unique digital movement steps from social media platforms onto the streets, attention is now focused on how events unfold at Jantar Mantar throughout the day and whether the protest attracts significant public participation.