CJP protest in Bengaluru urges more participation, sustained questioning

“Nothing is more dangerous than ‘mere bholne se kya hoga’ [What can be achieved by my speaking up],” read a poster that summed up the Cockroach Janta Party’s protest at Freedom Park in Central Bengaluru, which saw the participation of over 1,000 people on Sunday (July 19, 2026).

While the protest centred around the NEET paper leak and what the movement termed a “deteriorating democratic system”, it went beyond that agenda on Sunday (July 19, 2026), urging greater public participation and stressing the importance of questioning.

Read live updates from the ongoing protest at Jantar Mantar on July 19, 2026

Addressing the gathering, actor Kishor said, “This protest shouldn’t be selective and must go beyond NEET to other systemic problems.” Mr. Kishor stressed that the movement should not only force Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation but also pave the way for change in the system.

He further emphasised the need to sustain the movement, stating, “We become a dead society when we stop questioning.”

In the backdrop, protesters held posters that read, “Against the demons of democracy”, “We ask for a PM, not a solo traveller”, and “Demanding accountability doesn’t make you anti-national.” The protesters also questioned the forced removal of Sonam Wangchuk from Jantar Mantar to a hospital.