By Phalguni ShettyNEW DELHI: AIMIM Delhi state president Shoaib Jamai reached Jantar Mantar late Monday night to extend support to Cockroach Janta Party’s ongoing protest against alleged paper leaks and failures in the education system, but said he had come as a “common man” and not as a party representative.Jamai said he wanted to meet CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke and congratulate him for raising the issue, but the meeting could not take place as Dipke was unwell. “At the heart of Delhi, there is a protest going on. We have all been students at some point. I am rooted in academics and research, and I’m here as a concerned citizen to see how things are going. I wanted to also congratulate Abhijeet Dipke for raising his voice. He’s doing commendable work,” Jamai said.CJP’s sit-in at Jantar Mantar entered its fourth day on Tuesday, with protesters demanding the resignation of Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan over NEET-UG paper leak allegations and broader failures in the examination system. The protest has also seen students and supporters set up a “fight for education with education” library at the site and appeal for basic amenities as they continue the agitation.Jamai said the agitation should remain student-led and should not be converted into a political platform. “It is not about the resignation of one person. It is about fixing the system. If the system is corrupt, any minister taking office won’t stop the leaks,” he said, adding that examination-related stress and alleged paper leaks had affected students and families across the country.He also criticised National Testing Agency (NTA), saying the examination system needed a complete overhaul. “I have always been against the NTA. It is full of corruption. Tenders are given to organisations with a history of corruption and malpractice. A thorough inspection and overhaul must be conducted,” Jamai said.Jamai said he had planned to meet Dipke, but could not do so because of his health. “Suddenly, his health has been deteriorating. He is unwell and having a nervous breakdown,” he said.Ashutosh Ranka, third spokesperson of CJP, acknowledged Jamai’s visit and said the movement would welcome support from individuals, provided the protest remained focused on students and the education system. “I could not meet him unfortunately, but if he is here as a concerned citizen, we appreciate his presence. I request everyone to leave their politics for a week. We are all affected by corruption in the education system,” Ranka said.Ranka added that CJP would continue its sit-in until its central demand was met. “We will not leave Jantar Mantar until Dharmendra Pradhan resigns. This protest is historic. The core agenda remains the same: Pradhan must resign, and the system needs to be fixed,” he said.CJP has held a series of protests at Jantar Mantar this month over alleged irregularities in examinations and recruitment tests, with Dipke and supporters demanding accountability from the education ministry. Earlier demonstrations saw supporters wearing cockroach masks and carrying posters seeking Pradhan’s resignation.
