Satya Dharam Samvad Lends Support to Cockroach Janta Party Protest in Jantar Mantar

A delegation of religious leaders, led by Swami Raghavendra of Satya Dharam Samvad, headed to Delhi’s Jantar Mantar to support the ongoing Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest and hunger strike.

Abhijit Dipake, founder of CJP who called for the protest, said, “This is not merely a students’ movement; it is a movement for the future of India. When questions arise about the integrity of examination systems, the dreams of millions of young people are put at risk. We are committed to a peaceful and democratic struggle for justice, and this movement will continue until the concerns of students are addressed.” These comments come in the aftermath of the NEET examination controversy, where several students died by suicide following exam cancellations. (To learn more about the NEET exam scandal and its consequences, click here.)

The protestor’s demands call for the immediate resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, as well as financial compensation for the families of students who died by suicide. Alongside calls for political accountability are demands for larger legislative and structural reforms, such as a five-point exam reform plan and the right to employment law.

Renowned environmentalist and Ladakhi activist Sonam Wangchuk joined students in their fight for justice by embarking on a hunger strike; by the time the Satya Dharam Samvad delegation reached Jantar Mantar, Wangchuk had just entered the eighth day of his fast.

During a speech he gave at Jantar Mantar, Swami Shivanand Ji, Founder and President of Matri Sadan, Haridwar, said, “If the need arises, saints from our community will also join this struggle through peaceful fasting and protest. Those entrusted with public responsibility must remain accountable to the people. Anyone who fails in that responsibility should have the courage to accept moral accountability.”

Swami Raghavendra echoed his message, stating, “In a democracy, citizens have the right to question those in power. It is unfortunate that people who raise concerns about public issues are often branded as anti-national, foreign agents, or troublemakers. Dissent is not a threat to democracy; it is one of its essential pillars. When students, youth, and ordinary citizens come to the streets seeking justice, the duty of the government is to engage in dialogue rather than dismiss their concerns.”

Watch the day’s coverage of the Jantar Mantar CJP protest, including Swami Shivanand and Swami Raghavendra’s speeches, below:

Speech by Swami Raghavendra, Satya Dharam Samvad

I bow to the Sita-Ram within each of you. And to Wangchuk Ji, who has embodied Gandhi Ji by undertaking a fast, and who has been continuously fighting against the examination paper leak issue, and Abhishek Ji as well. Say it out loud once — Inquilab Zindabad! (Long live the revolution!)

The problem is that those who were entrusted with the responsibility of security and protection have themselves become the looters. I would like to quote Shahb Zaferi:

"Don't talk of this and that; tell me why the caravan was plundered. I don't complain about the highway robbers; the question is about your leadership."

India's Education Minister, Dharmendra Pradhan, was responsible for conducting the NEET exam. You all and the media might be surprised to see saints and ascetics on this platform. In reality, the definition of saints has been greatly distorted by capitalist forces and governments. Saints have come to be defined as those who become eulogists and flatterers of power. But the tradition of sages has been different — in ancient stories, there is a king who was dethroned by the roar of sages. We need such saints and gurus. There is a famous text in Indian literature — Yoga-Vasistha. In it, Maharishi Vasistha defines who a true guru is. These people fighting like roosters on TV are agents of a particular organization. The tradition that has always stood with democratic and public issues is the tradition of Swami Sahajanand. It is the tradition whose torchbearers included Professor GD Agarwal, also known as Swami Shahanand, and our friend and brother, Aatma Bhonanand. This is the tradition that stands with the people, not with power. A true guru, a true sage, a true social worker always stands with the people, not with power.

There is a verse from Yoga-Vasistha — forgive me if you don't understand Sanskrit, I will say it in Hindi. The verse says that a true guru is one who prevents others from doing wrong, who walks the path of innocence, who constantly teaches the essence of public welfare and the upliftment of the poor and suffering, and who selflessly guides the disciple on the path of well-being. Therefore, today, those who have become the footstools and flatterers of power, and who propagate themselves as great gurus and religious authorities through Indian media, news channels, and various forms of publicity, need to understand this. And we need to safeguard and carry forward that tradition — the tradition of Swami Sahajanand, the tradition of those saints who have always looked power in the eye and spoken on democratic and public issues.

Without saying too much, I fully agree with the revered Gurudev that Dharmendra Pradhan should be prosecuted for the deaths of children. The government of Narendra Modi is a murderer of children and is fleeing from its responsibilities. I will conclude my speech by reciting a few lines from a poem by Sudama Pandey 'Dhoomil':

"Everywhere there is smoke, everywhere there is fog,

He who is the broker of teeth and swamps is the patriot.

The name of safety in darkness is stagnation...

Here, cowardice has the most blood on its face,

He who has a plate, for him every hungry man is the biggest curse.

Everywhere there is a well, everywhere there is a ditch,

Here, only that man is close to the country,

Who is either a fool or poor."

I know that as soon as you ask questions to this government, you become anti-national, you become anti-Hindu, you become heaven knows what else. So, offering revolutionary salutations to you all — Inquilab Zindabad! Dharmendra Pradhan, resign! I now give the microphone to the revered Gurudev.

Speech by Swami Shivanand, Founder and President of Matri Sadan, Haridwar

"Poornamevaavashishyadi" — Om Shanti, Shanti, Shanti. That Supreme Brahman is complete, and I — this individuality — is also complete. This completeness has come from that Completeness, and that Completeness alone remains. We must be wise. Children, the Supreme Brahman power is complete; let us align with that power, abide in its strength, its truth, and follow its laws. I have come to this platform after observing Wangchuk Ji's Satyagraha and Deepak Ji's movement, to offer my complete support. I am here to say that you should not be disheartened — this is a small demand; Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation is inevitable. "The fearful are as good as dead." People may die, but Modi is still alive — No, Modi is not alive; his truth is dead, his honesty is dead, his morality is dead — he himself feels like a dead man. There is no need to panic about the problem or the situation in our country today. However great the darkness, a spark destroys it. This is darkness. The truth in this fast, the power of this fast, as much as it is affecting within, the universe is trembling — the universe is not trembling, but those individuals are feeling terror in their hearts. You may know Wangchuk, Modi may know, everyone may know, because no small effort has been made to destroy Wangchuk. They have poisoned our great souls, mixed chemicals, influenced judges — even now, in the Supreme Court of India, I don't believe even 5% of the judges are just. I say with conviction, from my heart — any judge — I don't think even 5% are just. India is the land of truth; truth cannot be destroyed here. In this country, there is the tradition of Panch-Parameshwar (the council of five as God) — you can read Premchand's story, 'Panch-Parameshwar'. Those who go against justice, their work fails. This is your truth; face the truth. I declare before leaving that 95% of the judges in India are acting against their own principles. And this is the country's biggest misfortune. Modi came to power with greed, with his sergeants — he will do what he does, but what is the duty of the judges? And these media people — I don't know, there might be some lapdog media people here too, famous names — they are given a mouthpiece. These lapdog media people should be ashamed. And note this — discord will rain upon the families of these lapdog media people. I am a saint; discord does not follow us. All my life, since childhood, I have only followed the truth and I have only upheld this truth. Those who have emerged as lamps against truth, as suns, I support them. You all stand firm; this is nothing, it will pass. And I want to tell Modi Ji — you say, "I will leave with my bag" — then go ahead and leave. This country will not forgive you. Your own people are silent, you do what you do — we will shout loudly, wherever we need to go, take the path — the country will not be bankrupt...

Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank' went and someone said — look, we are leaving this street... But I am going to the court of Lord Ram, and in Lord Ram's court, I will seek justice and get them punished. And they have already received that punishment — they have received the punishment of Lord Ram. And Pokhriyal Ji is saying — no, no, that is not the case — he was told, okay, you also have to feed those who have been corrupted... This was an external matter, today I externalize it... I have come to say this — Wangchuk Ji, you stand firm; if needed, saints from our ashram are ready to sit here with you.

And you people are cockroaches — what a wonderful name, given by Chief Justice — it has become a blessed name. So you are cockroaches — the same soul resides in you as in Brahma, Vishnu, and Mahesh. We want to show this — that even from an Indian cockroach, Brahma-Vishnu-Mahesh can emerge and please the universe — this is what remains with you now...