Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday, 6 June sharply condemned the protest held at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, organised by the Cockroach Janata Party under the leadership of US-returned activist Abhijeet Dipke, calling it a platform for spreading lawlessness rather than a genuine expression of youth sentiment.

What Fadnavis Said

Reacting strongly to the demonstration, Fadnavis said: 'You all must have witnessed the speeches and slogans raised at Jantar Mantar today. One thing has become clear from it — this is not the true expression of India's youth. Instead, it reflects a mindset aimed at spreading lawlessness. It is now evident that this platform has become an arena for anarchy.'

He further accused the protesters of hypocrisy, alleging that they invoke the Constitution framed by Bharat Ratna Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar while simultaneously rejecting the constitutional institutions created by it. 'They talk about uprooting the system established by the Constitution and desire nothing but chaos. This manifestation has exposed their anarchist faces and real motives. Such intentions will never succeed, and they have received absolutely no public backing,' Fadnavis added.

The Protest and Its Demands

The Cockroach Janata Party, founded by Abhijeet Dipke, organised the Jantar Mantar rally to demand the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, primarily over the NEET paper leak controversy. The demonstration drew participation from youth across the country and received backing from several Opposition leaders as well as youth active on social media.

This comes amid sustained public anger over the NEET examination irregularities, which critics argue have derailed the academic futures of lakhs of students who appeared for the undergraduate medical entrance test.

Uddhav Thackeray Hits Back

Former Maharashtra Chief Minister and Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) chief Uddhav Thackeray took a markedly different position, warning the government against underestimating the protesters. 'The youth, whom we call the future and the architects of the nation's destiny, have taken to the streets in the scorching heat, carrying their pain and anxiety about the future,' he said.

Thackeray argued that dismissing the demonstrators by calling them 'cockroaches' amounted to humiliation rather than governance. 'The NEET paper leak has ruined the lives of lakhs of young people. All these affected young men and women are expressing their anguish by becoming cockroaches,' he said, defending the symbolic identity adopted by the protesters.

Wider Political Context

The protest at Jantar Mantar is the latest flashpoint in a prolonged political battle over the NEET controversy, which has drawn in student groups, opposition parties, and civil society voices. The Cockroach Janata Party's name itself is a reclamation of the term reportedly used to belittle the agitators. Notably, the protest's reception among Opposition leaders signals that the movement could gain further political traction in the weeks ahead, with the NEET issue remaining unresolved at the national level.