Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke arrived in India on June 6 to spearhead the party's campaign against alleged examination paper leaks and to demand the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. However, as the protest gained momentum and attracted nationwide attention in the weeks that followed, activist Sonam Wangchuk emerged as the movement's most recognisable figure, with critics questioning Dipke's absence during several key moments of the agitation.
Throughout the month-long protest, Wangchuk undertook an indefinite hunger strike, drawing significant public attention and lending credibility to the movement. His fast continued until he was taken by police from the protest site at Jantar Mantar to Safdarjung Hospital. Dipke later said he had stepped away to a nearby friend's house to use the restroom and returned only after Wangchuk had already been shifted to the hospital.
Although Dipke remained the principal organiser of the campaign, Wangchuk's hunger strike became the central focus of the protest.
Following Wangchuk's transfer to Safdarjung Hospital on Saturday, Dipke announced that he would begin an indefinite hunger strike at Jantar Mantar, stating that he would continue fasting until Wangchuk was released.
However, the fast lasted only about two days. According to the CJP, Wangchuk requested Dipke from the hospital to end his fast, saying he needed to conserve his strength to continue leading the movement. Dipke subsequently broke his fast by drinking juice, while Wangchuk continued his own hunger strike from his hospital bed.
On Monday, CJP spokespersons Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka submitted a memorandum to Union Health Minister JP Nadda, listing three key demands, including Wangchuk's return to the protest site at Jantar Mantar.
While Wangchuk continued his fast into its 22nd day, Dipke's hunger strike concluded after approximately 48 hours, having begun only after Wangchuk's transfer to the hospital.
In an opinion article published on Monday, columnist and satirist Kamlesh Singh argued that the movement's search for credibility led Dipke to align with Wangchuk, whose participation gave the protest both legitimacy and broader public appeal. Singh suggested that Wangchuk's presence transformed what many viewed as a scattered movement into one with a recognised moral centre.
On Monday morning, thousands of CJP supporters assembled at Jantar Mantar before marching towards Parliament as part of the "Sansad Chalo" campaign. Protesters attempting to cross police barricades were detained and faced tear gas and baton charges from security personnel.
Dipke, however, did not lead the march. Instead, he remained at the protest site, where he ended his hunger strike following Wangchuk's appeal. This occurred while demonstrators were confronting police near Parliament.
Confusion also surrounded Dipke's whereabouts during the protests after CJP spokesperson Saurav Das initially claimed that Dipke had been detained by police. Approximately an hour later, Das clarified that Dipke had not been detained. Shortly afterwards, Dipke returned to Jantar Mantar, where he formally ended his hunger strike.
Dipke was also absent during another significant development on Monday when a CJP delegation comprising Das and Ashutosh Ranka met Union Health Minister JP Nadda at his residence. According to the delegation, the meeting followed a two-hour wait and lasted around 10 minutes.
After the meeting, Ranka said that Nadda had sought time to consult the government leadership regarding the delegation's demands, which included Wangchuk's immediate release, the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan and Rs 1 crore in compensation for the families of NEET aspirants who allegedly died in connection with the NEET-UG controversy.
Dipke was not part of the delegation that met Nadda, and his broader demand for structural reforms in India's education system was not highlighted during the interaction.
Taken individually, these incidents may not carry significant weight. However, together they have prompted criticism over Dipke's absence during several of the protest's most consequential moments. Although he remained associated with the movement throughout and repeatedly returned after brief absences, questions have been raised over his visibility during major developments, including Wangchuk's detention, the march towards Parliament and the meeting with the Union minister.
With protesters regrouping at Jantar Mantar after the clashes with police, attention has now shifted to the next phase of the agitation and the role Dipke will play in leading it.
