Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha MP Sagarika Ghose said she would join the Cockroach Janata Party protest at Jantar Mantar, adding political weight to a sit-in demanding Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation over examination paper leaks and alleged irregularities.
The demonstration, led by CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke, has entered its second week in Delhi, with activists accusing the Centre of failing to protect the credibility of high-stakes entrance tests. Protesters have focused their campaign on the NEET-UG controversy, repeated complaints of paper leaks, and what they describe as a broader breakdown in examination governance.
Ghose announced her decision after days of mobilisation by students, youth groups and civil society figures at the protest site. Her participation marks one of the more visible endorsements from an opposition parliamentarian, at a time when anger over cancelled and rescheduled examinations has become a political issue beyond student circles.
The CJP has built its campaign around a demand that Pradhan accept moral responsibility for the disruption caused to candidates. Dipke has argued that the education ministry cannot treat the matter as an administrative lapse when millions of families have faced financial, emotional and academic uncertainty. Protesters have said the minister’s continuation in office undermines public confidence in competitive examinations.
The agitation intensified after climate activist Sonam Wangchuk joined the protest and began a hunger strike in support of the demand for accountability. His presence drew wider attention to the sit-in, while organisers said the demonstration would continue until the government acted on their central demand. Concerns over Wangchuk’s health have also brought pressure on authorities to respond before the protest escalates further.
The NEET-UG row has affected about 2.3 million candidates, turning the examination into a national flashpoint. The cancellation of the original process, the rescheduling of the test and allegations of organised malpractice have deepened distrust among aspirants preparing for medical admissions. Candidates and parents have complained that repeated changes have added costs, stress and uncertainty to an already demanding process.
The National Testing Agency, which conducts NEET-UG and several other entrance examinations, has come under intense scrutiny over its ability to run large tests securely. Official measures around the re-examination included stricter monitoring and tighter procedures, but critics say technical fixes cannot substitute for institutional accountability. The agency’s handling of communications with candidates has also been criticised by student groups.
The controversy has widened beyond one examination. Opposition leaders and youth organisations have linked the NEET-UG dispute to earlier complaints involving recruitment and entrance tests, arguing that paper leaks have become a recurring governance failure. They have called for independent probes, stronger penalties for organised cheating networks and a transparent audit of examination systems.
The government has sought to contain the fallout by highlighting corrective steps and security measures. Officials have defended the need to preserve the integrity of the examination process while pursuing investigations into alleged malpractice. Pradhan has faced sustained demands for resignation, but the government has not indicated that it is preparing to remove him.
The CJP, a new political formation built around youth frustration, has gained unusual visibility through online mobilisation and street protest. Its name and symbolism have attracted criticism from ruling party supporters, but its organisers have used that attention to frame themselves as a voice for aspirants who feel ignored by established parties. The protest at Jantar Mantar has become the group’s first major test of endurance.
Police arrangements around the protest site have also drawn complaints from organisers. CJP leaders have alleged surveillance of their communications and restrictions on basic facilities, charges that have added a civil liberties dimension to the agitation. Authorities have not accepted the protesters’ allegations, while the sit-in has continued under tight watch.
Ghose’s decision to join the protest is likely to sharpen the political messaging around the issue. As a former journalist and a first-term Rajya Sabha member from the Trinamool Congress, she has positioned her support as an act of solidarity with students and citizens seeking accountability. Her presence gives the protest a larger opposition platform without formally placing the movement under any single party’s control.
