Lucknow: Students Take to the Streets Over NEET-UG Paper Leak; CJP Founder Abhijeet Dipke Joins the Protest at Eco Garden

Lucknow: Youth outrage over alleged irregularities and paper leaks in competitive examinations is intensifying across the country. In Uttar Pradesh’s capital, Lucknow, students are staging a massive sit-in protest at the Eco Garden against the alleged rigging of the NEET-UG 2026, SSC GD, and UPPSC exams. The movement gained fresh momentum late Thursday night when 30-year-old Abhijeet Dipke, founder of the ‘Cockroach Janta Party‘ (CJP), arrived in the city to join the peaceful demonstration.

The NEET-UG 2026 Controversy Explained

The NEET-UG examination held on May 3rd became the center of a massive controversy after allegations surfaced that 120 questions exactly matched a leaked ‘guess paper’. Following the exposure of these massive irregularities, the exam was canceled. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is currently conducting a thorough probe into the matter, with the role of several prominent coaching institutes also under the scanner.

Primary Demands of the Students:

• A transparent re-examination (Re-exam) for NEET-UG 2026.
• The immediate resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
• Strict legal action against the culprits and a complete overhaul of the examination system to ensure transparency.

“Will Go to the Police Station Myself”: Abhijeet Dipke

Abhijeet Dipke appeared to be in action mode right from his arrival at the Lucknow airport. A video of his arrival was widely shared on the social media platform ‘X’ (formerly Twitter). Clarifying his stance, Dipke stated that he had come to participate in the peaceful protest against the Education Minister at the Eco Garden. Sending a strong message to the administration, he declared, “If the local police admin refuses permission to the youth, he will personally go to the police station and request the police to give permission.”

What is the ‘Cockroach Janta Party’ (CJP)?

Founded in May 2026, the CJP was born out of outrage over a controversial remark where the Chief Justice of India (CJI) allegedly referred to unemployed youths as “cockroaches.” Turning this insult into their strength, the youth formed this political front. Currently, the CJP is spearheading a nationwide movement against flaws in the education system, paper leaks, and rising youth unemployment. Following successful protests at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar and Pune, the movement is now expanding to cities like Lucknow, Amritsar, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and Jaipur.

The Ground Reality of the Protest

This student movement is a prime example of digital-age mobilization, primarily organized through WhatsApp groups. However, some local students at the protest site have expressed concerns that the involvement of a political organization like the CJP might politicize their pure student-led movement.

Despite these concerns and a heavy deployment of police forces, the protest at the Eco Garden continues peacefully. The local administration and police are keeping a close watch on the situation, while Dipke’s presence has undeniably amplified the youths’ voices on a national level.