An 83-year-old woman joined thousands of demonstrators at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on Saturday morning around 11 am. The heat was becoming intense. When asked about attending a student-led event, she explained her concern for her grandchildren’s prospects despite her own children having finished their studies. She referred to all the young people present as her own. For much of the afternoon, the demonstration proceeded in parts, with repeated chants and addresses by Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke and other speakers. Security forces including personnel from the CRPF, SSB and Delhi Police maintained a presence around the location. Student groups from SFI and AISF continued their chants. Many participants sat on the hot road surface and struggled to hear the speeches until educationist Sonam Wangchuk arrived. His presence unified the gathering. This marked the first major public action by the CJP, an online initiative started by Dipke. While Dipke attracted participants, Wangchuk held their focus during his address, which drew an estimated 2,000 to 2,500 people at its height. The event called for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan due to issues with examinations and recruitment. Students, job seekers, parents and activists attended in significant numbers. One participant said he traveled from Nagpur in Maharashtra to protest systemic problems. The main chant was for Pradhan to step down. The turnout represented a shift from online activity to street action, though it also highlighted potential future difficulties for the group. By late morning, the site featured students with placards, copies of the Constitution, images of BR Ambedkar and Mahatma Gandhi, their books and the national flag. Not all focused solely on the minister. Outside the barricades, a vendor sold masks, posters and flags. Security personnel stood watch as Dipke arrived and later entered the area under protection. The crowd included a bank employee concerned for younger relatives, a Delhi University PhD scholar noting delays in academia, and an unemployed graduate from Maharashtra. An artist from Greater Noida sketched in support of the students. Discussions revealed wider frustrations over job delays, limited opportunities and questions of accountability.
