Tens of thousands of students, young people and supporters of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) gathered on Monday in Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, defying a police ban and staging a renewed march toward Parliament to demand the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
The protest, which has swelled into one of the most visible expressions of dissent against the Modi government, saw police use batons and tear gas in the central Delhi area. At least 60 demonstrators needed medical treatment, some bleeding heavily from head wounds, while 118 police officers were reported injured in the altercation.
The CJP is a youth‑led movement that rose to prominence after a Chief Justice’s comment labeling unemployed youths as “cockroaches,” a remark that the movement adopted as a satirical political brand. Its demands center on the integrity of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) and a full investigation into an alleged exam paper leak that led to the cancellation of the 3‑May test for 2.28 million candidates.
Opposition politician Rahul Gandhi described the students’ demands as “legitimate” and accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of being “the most anti‑youth prime minister India has ever had.” He marched with Congress MPs to the prime minister’s residence, calling for accountability after the police brutality.
Following the confrontation, the CJP’s leadership claimed police were the aggressors and urged supporters to seek legal help for injured members. The group reclaimed Jantar Mantar later that night, declaring the protest “not ending” and demanding Pradhan’s resignation.
Police later stated that protesters had acted violently and refused to disperse, but the CJP rebutted these claims, insisting that the police had initiated the attack on the assembled crowds.
The violence and the CJP’s continued non‑delegation have kept the movement in the media spotlight, with many supporters injured and some reportedly in critical condition in hospitals.
(Warning: images and descriptions may be disturbing)
