New Delhi: Rap songs, poetry, standup acts and Gen-Z memes formed the backdrop to Cockroach Janta Party’s second protest in the city Saturday, where artists from across the country took to the stage to criticise and take jibes at the NEET-UG paper leak controversy, governance issues and challenges faced by young people.Songs written specially for the protest, including ‘Jai Leakistan’ and ‘Mai Haske Marunga Watan Ke Liye’, were performed through the afternoon as protesters joined in and raised slogans.The protest, called over the alleged inaction on the group’s demand for Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation, drew people from across the country. Many in attendance were young, with volunteers checking identification documents before allowing participants into the venue.Unlike the group’s first Delhi protest on June 6, organisers put in place tighter security arrangements, with volunteers stationed across the venue and a dedicated stage set up for performances and speeches. The measures came days after CJP chief Abhijeet Dipke was slapped during a protest in Pune.Performances began around 1pm, before Dipke arrived at the venue around 3pm carrying portraits of Mahatma Gandhi and BR Ambedkar. He was greeted with slogans of ‘Jai Bhim’, ‘Pradhan Istifa Do’ and ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’.Among those attending was Naitik, a Class VIII student who came with his uncle. “The issues being raised here are genuine. They may affect my studies as well when I grow older,” he said.Shail Younis, a 22-year-old operation theatre technician from Andhra Pradesh, arrived dressed in traditional Arab attire. He said he had travelled for over a day on a motorcycle to attend the protest. “I wanted to be part of it,” he said.Taking a jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Go Corona Go’ slogan during the Covid-19 pandemic, Dipke led supporters in chanting ‘Go Pradhan Go’ while beating thalis and spoons.Around 4.30pm, Dipke announced that the agitation would continue until Pradhan resigned. Police, however, refused to allow the protest beyond the permitted hours. As the evening progressed, police announcements asking protesters to vacate the site were met with continued sloganeering. After the public address system was switched off at 5pm, CJP used its own microphones and portable sound equipment to continue addressing supporters late into the evening.With inputs from Milonee Mishra
