Supporters Face Police Action in Delhi Protests Against Education System Failures

In New Delhi, supporters of India’s youth-led ‘cockroach’ movement encountered police aggression as they attempted to march on parliament. Authorities had denied permission for the protest, but that did not deter the participants. This movement represents a significant public challenge to Prime Minister Narendra Modi as he enters his third term. The protest has attracted millions of followers on social media and continues to grow.

Tensions heightened after police moved hunger-striking activist Sonam Wangchuk to the hospital. Thousands of supporters gathered at Jantar Mantar, a central protest site in Delhi, in anticipation of the march set to coincide with the opening of parliament’s monsoon session. Despite meetings between Delhi police and Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) members, no agreement was reached, stated Sachin Sharma, Delhi’s deputy commissioner of police.

‘The protest site has already run out of space and this can lead to an untoward situation,’ Sharma noted. Around 10,000 protesters were present on Monday morning.

A significant police and paramilitary presence has been established at the site, potentially leading to a standoff if the march proceeds. Television footage depicted police confronting some protesters in a heavily barricaded area. However, Delhi Police denied using force, claiming that the protest was managed professionally.

Protesters maintained peaceful conduct, chanting slogans in central Delhi, despite the rain. They called for Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to resign. Protest spokesman Saurav Das mentioned to the ANI news agency that the administration had delayed attempts to open talks with the government, but protesters were receptive.

The movement began in response to leaked medical school entrance test papers in May, affecting over 2 million students who had to retake the test. “All these leaders in power are illiterate,” voiced 21-year-old Adi Nathan from Meerut, demanding an end to such incidents.

Another student, Mohammed Tabrez, 22, aimed to stop corruption in examination processes. He traveled from Amroha to join the protest. “We want this corruption to end,” Tabrez declared.

Initially gaining support online with 22 million followers on Instagram, the CJP has started receiving backing from opposition parties. Founder Abhijeet Dipke began a sit-in in June, joined by Wangchuk for an indefinite hunger strike.

Wangchuk shared a handwritten note on X from the hospital, expressing willingness to end his fast if the government addressed failures causing paper leaks or if CJP protesters reached parliament with assurances from lawmakers on addressing these issues.

The rise of CJP underscores young Indians’ frustrations over high unemployment and examination paper leaks. Government data from 2025 shows that unemployment among those aged 15 and above was 3.1%, while the rate for ages 15 to 29 was 9.9%, with urban rates at 13.6%.