AISA Backs Cockroach Janta Party's Planned September 5 Protest March in Delhi
The All India Students’ Association has extended its support to the Cockroach Janta Party’s proposed September 5 protest march in Delhi. The demonstration aims to demand the withdrawal of First Information Reports lodged against students and seek an official inquiry into alleged pellet and bullet firing during previous demonstrations.
Speaking on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, AISA president Neha Bora stated that youth mobilisation issues remain unresolved, with police cases still pending against protesting students despite previous government assurances to drop them. She called for full government accountability and an investigation into the use of force during past rallies.
The Abhijeet Dipke-led Cockroach Janta Party announced the resumption of its peaceful mobilisation following a month-long pause for negotiations with the central government. The planned march on September 5, which coincides with Teachers' Day, is set to be led by families of students who died by suicide after the cancellation and re-test of the NEET exam, as well as those subjected to alleged police excesses during protests in July.
Ms. Bora, a JNU PhD scholar and head of the CPI (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation-affiliated student outfit, previously undertook a 23-day hunger strike alongside climate activist Sonam Wangchuk in Delhi regarding irregularities surrounding the NEET paper leak. She stated that public demonstrations became essential after channels for dialogue between the public and the government narrowed.
Addressing the participation of affected families, Ms. Bora stated that authorities should have addressed student and family grievances at the start of the agitation rather than ignoring their concerns.
Responding to queries regarding permissions, Ms. Bora noted that Delhi Police had stated they had not yet received a formal request for the September 5 march and would review any application submitted. She stated that while AISA would monitor the police response, the outfit adheres to the democratic principle that citizens have the right to protest.
Ms. Bora added that AISA’s support extends across broader student concerns nationwide, including issues stemming from the centralisation of competitive examinations by agencies such as the National Testing Agency, as well as state and college-level agitations.
