New Delhi

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Wednesday said that while movements such as the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) reflect the growing frustration among young people, it is ultimately established political parties that must take up and advance the issues being raised.

Speaking in an interview with PTI Videos, the Congress general secretary said democratic systems cannot rely solely on movements, as they are fundamentally sustained by structured political parties.

Commenting on the CJP protest, Ramesh noted that opinions about the movement vary widely. “Some describe it as being influenced by the deep state, others see it as an expression of youth frustration. There is no way to verify either claim, but what is clear is that it has gained attention on social media and in public discourse, even though it is not a formal political party,” he said.

He stressed that political parties remain central to democratic functioning. “Ultimately, it is parties that matter. While such movements may serve as important platforms to highlight public anger, especially among youth, it is established parties that must carry these concerns forward,” he added.

Ramesh said that while protests and movements play a role in democracy, governance cannot be built on them alone, as political parties remain the backbone of democratic institutions.

Referring to ongoing protests at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar by CJP supporters, he said demonstrators have been demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG examination and other issues.

The protest, which began on Saturday, has drawn participation from students and various student organisations. On Tuesday, protesters even held a symbolic “diaper donation drive” as part of their agitation.

Ramesh also highlighted Congress efforts on education-related concerns, noting that Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi has been raising issues related to examinations and education policy through a broader campaign.

He said Gandhi’s recent address in Kota focused not only on exam irregularities but also on broader structural issues such as rising dependence on private coaching institutions and declining public investment in education.

According to Ramesh, a significant concern is that families are increasingly spending more on coaching than what the government invests in public education. He called this an imbalance that needs wider debate in Parliament and among the public.

He further questioned the growing cost of medical education and the increasing privatisation of the sector, saying these issues were central to the concerns raised in the campaign.

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Meanwhile, over 20 lakh candidates took a re-conducted NEET (UG) examination on Sunday after earlier papers were cancelled due to alleged leaks, an issue that sparked nationwide protests, including those led by the CJP movement.