Indian police used force on Monday as supporters of the youth-led Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) attempted to march toward parliament in New Delhi, demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged examination irregularities and paper leaks.
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The protest, held on the opening day of parliament’s monsoon session, attracted thousands of supporters despite authorities refusing permission for the march. The movement, which began online, has grown into a major public challenge for the Indian government, gaining millions of supporters across social media platforms.
The situation intensified after activist Sonam Wangchuk was moved to a hospital on Saturday by Delhi authorities following a 20-day hunger strike. His removal from the protest site reportedly encouraged more supporters to join the demonstration, with thousands arriving overnight at Jantar Mantar in central New Delhi.
Delhi Police deployed large numbers of police and paramilitary personnel around the protest area. Deputy Commissioner of Police Sachin Sharma said around 10,000 protesters had gathered and warned that overcrowding could lead to an unfortunate situation.
Television footage showed police personnel using batons against some protesters, although Delhi Police denied using excessive force and said the demonstration was being managed professionally.
Demonstrators raised slogans against Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing authorities of failing to prevent corruption and leaks in competitive examinations.
The CJP movement gained momentum after a medical entrance examination paper leak affected more than two million students, forcing authorities to conduct a re-test. Students participating in the protest said they wanted an end to corruption and fraud in competitive examinations.
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke and supporters began their sit-in protest last month, while Wangchuk joined the movement on June 28 and launched an indefinite hunger strike.
From the hospital, Wangchuk said he would end his fast if the government accepted responsibility for failures in the education system, or if lawmakers assured protesters that their concerns would be addressed.
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Analysts say the movement reflects growing frustration among Indian youth over issues including unemployment and repeated examination controversies.