NEW DELHI: Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP) protest demanding the resignation of Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET-UG paper leak controversy entered its fourth day Tuesday, with the organisation appealing to parents to allow their children to join the agitation.CJP invited all UPSC and SSC aspirants to come to Jantar Mantar Tuesday, stating that the stage will be open for them to share their grievances with the public. Meanwhile, Bhartiya Kisan Union has extended its support to CJP.CJP held a candlelight vigil at Jantar Mantar to pay tribute to the students who allegedly died by suicide due to the NEET-UG paper leak controversy and the pressure associated with re-examinations.Scores of people gathered at the protest site Monday evening, holding candles and lighting them in front of a poster carrying photographs of some of the deceased students. Protesters also observed a period of silence in their memory.Addressing the gathering, CJP chief Abhijeet Dipke urged central govt to provide compensation of Rs 1 crore to the families of the deceased students. “Some of these families had taken loans to educate their children. For some families, these students were the only hope for a stable future. One can only imagine what these families must be going through. We urge govt to provide Rs 1-crore compensation to the families,” Dipke said.CJP spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka appealed to parents not to prevent students from participating in the protest. “Some students who came here told us that their parents do not allow them to join the protest because they fear something bad may happen. I want to appeal to the parents – please do not stop them. We are doing this for them. Please let the youth do something for the country,” Ranka said.He added that the protest was not directed against any party or individual but against what he described as a failure of governance. “This movement is not against any party or person. It is against governance failure and the inability of the system to protect the interests of students,” he said.The organisation also appealed to citizens who were unable to participate in the protest to light a candle at their homes in memory of the deceased students.CJP has been demanding Pradhan’s resignation over the NEET-UG paper leak controversy and alleged governance lapses in the education system. The group held its first protest in Delhi on June 6 and launched an indefinite agitation at Jantar Mantar on June 20, declaring that it will continue the protest until the minister steps down.
