New Delhi: Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Wednesday described the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) as an important platform reflecting the frustration of young people, while emphasising that established political parties must take forward the issues raised by the movement.
Speaking in an interview, Ramesh said the CJP had succeeded in capturing public attention and social media discourse, but stressed that lasting political change ultimately depends on organised political parties and institutions.
Jairam Ramesh’s Remarks On CJP
Commenting on the growing visibility of the Cockroach Janata Party, Ramesh said there were differing views about the origins of the movement.
“Some people say it is sponsored by the deep state, some people say it is a reflection of the frustration of youth. There is no way to prove either claim, but the fact is it caught the social media space and generated significant headlines,” he said.
However, he maintained that CJP should not be viewed as a conventional political party.
“It is not a political party. Ultimately, it is political parties and their organisational structures that matter in a democracy,” Ramesh said.
According to him, the movement’s significance lies in the message it has conveyed regarding youth dissatisfaction and concerns surrounding the education system.
Protest Over NEET-UG Controversy
The Cockroach Janata Party has been staging a sit-in protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the alleged NEET-UG paper leak and examination-related irregularities.
As part of their campaign, protesters recently organised a “diaper donation drive”, drawing attention to their demand for accountability in the examination system.
The group has stated that its protest will continue until Pradhan resigns.
Congress Campaign On Education Issues
Ramesh said the Congress party is running a nationwide campaign focused on examination reforms, education policy and student concerns.
He highlighted that Rahul Gandhi has already interacted with students in Kota and plans to continue outreach programmes in Prayagraj, Patna and later in Delhi.
According to Ramesh, the campaign extends beyond NEET and CBSE-related issues and focuses on broader concerns regarding education access and quality.
Questions On Education Spending
The Congress leader criticised what he described as a growing dependence on private coaching centres.
He argued that many families spend more money on coaching institutions than the government spends on education, calling it a structural imbalance within the country’s education system.
Ramesh also questioned the rising cost of medical education and increasing privatisation in the sector.
“Why are coaching centres so popular? Why is medical education so expensive? Why is everything getting privatised? These are the questions that need to be addressed,” he said.
Background
The debate comes in the wake of the NEET-UG controversy, which triggered nationwide protests and demands for greater transparency in competitive examinations. More than 20 lakh medical aspirants reportedly appeared for the NEET-UG retest after the original examination was cancelled following allegations of a paper leak.
While the Cockroach Janata Party has gained attention through its unconventional protests, Ramesh’s remarks suggest that mainstream political parties may increasingly seek to channel student concerns into broader political and policy discussions.