Thousands of protesters, identifying with the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), marched on India's parliament in New Delhi on Monday, demanding education reforms. The demonstrations, which began at Jantar Mantar, gained significant traction since their June inception.
The CJP, founded by Abhijeet Dipke, has adopted the "cockroach" as its symbol. The movement's initial protest in June was a small online campaign, but it has since expanded to cities across India, attracting support from students, professionals, activists, and opposition politicians.
Clashes erupted between protesters and police, with some demonstrators reporting injuries. Police in riot gear eventually moved into Jantar Mantar, announcing that the protest permit had been revoked and began dispersing the crowd. Some protesters resisted, linking arms, while others fled the scene.
There was initial confusion regarding Dipke's status, with the CJP stating he had been detained. The group later clarified that protesters had prevented police from taking him into custody. Delhi Police denied these allegations, calling them "entirely false."