Supporters of India's youth-led Cockroach movement clashed with police on Monday as thousands attempted to march to Parliament to demand the education minister’s resignation. The confrontation marked one of the most significant clashes in the movement's campaign against Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government.
Police deployed tear gas and baton charges after demonstrators tried to breach security barricades surrounding the protest site in central New Delhi. Despite the police action, some protesters continued to advance toward Parliament in smaller groups. Cockroach Janta Party spokesperson Saurav Das condemned the authorities' actions, describing them as a "brutal crackdown" on "peaceful protesters." Delhi Police stated the march was unauthorized and that restrictions were necessary to maintain law and order during the monsoon session of Parliament.
The demonstration, which began at Jantar Mantar, a designated protest area a few kilometers from Parliament, included students, professionals, and families. The gathering eventually expanded to fill surrounding streets and roads.
The Cockroach Janta Party emerged in May, inspired by a Supreme Court chief justice's remark comparing unemployed youth to "cockroaches." The movement has gained traction, attracting millions of followers on social media, particularly after repeated leaks of high-stakes entrance exams for medical colleges and government jobs. It also drew national attention following the forceful transfer of hunger-striking activist Sonam Wangchuk to a hospital on Saturday.
Protesters, identifying as "cockroaches," have been camped at Jantar Mantar for approximately a month, with members of various student groups joining Wangchuk's hunger strike. They are calling for the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, reforms to the examination system, and compensation for the families of students who died by suicide after exam papers were leaked.
While senior government officials had previously taken a firm stance against the movement, accusing protesters of acting against the nation, a shift appeared Monday when representatives met with Health Minister J.P. Nadda. This meeting represented the government's first apparent outreach to protest leaders.
Das, who attended the meeting with Nadda, stated he presented the protesters' demands, including the immediate resignation of the education minister. Meanwhile, activist Wangchuk appealed from the hospital for permission to temporarily join the march and indicated he would end his nearly three-week hunger strike only if the government accepted responsibility for failures in the education system and exam leaks, or if lawmakers pledged to address the issues in Parliament.
The protests represent a notable public challenge to Modi's Hindu nationalist government. Opposition parties, rights activists, and some celebrities have offered support. Protesters argue that dissent has become increasingly restricted under Modi's administration, which has faced criticism for suppressing public protests through arrests and forceful police actions.
Jyoti Rajput, a yoga teacher participating in the protests, expressed frustration with the "rotten system" for its perceived inaction and inability to acknowledge the struggles of students. Sneha Eppili, another protester, stated her belief that the government is accountable to its citizens and must answer their questions, framing it as a basic human right.