The Cockroach Janta Party, a youth‑led movement, mobilised a massive crowd on Monday, marching towards Central Delhi’s Parliament to demand the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan following allegations of NEET exam irregularities.
Hundreds of students, parents, teachers and professionals gathered at Jantar Mantar, where they camped for weeks, defying police orders that barred a march to Parliament. Police, armed with batons and tear gas canisters, reversed the march at successive barricades and began pounding protesters, with several injured.
The protest had gained momentum after the forced hospitalisation of activist Sonam Wangchuk during a hunger strike and after chief justice remarks that labelled unemployed youth as "cockroaches." The movement has quickly spread across India, tempting support from opposition politicians, but the confrontation in Delhi marked its most overt challenge to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government.
Police dispersal efforts were followed by the paralysis of mobile internet in parts of central Delhi, cutting off protesters from social media and messaging apps. Some demonstrators were evacuated to hospitals; a volunteer doctor noted at least ten people treated for cuts and broken legs sustained from baton charges.
After the clash, representatives of the movement met Health Minister JP Nadda, receiving a pledge that the matter would be raised within the government. Nadda urged the crowd to end the demonstration and restore normalcy via an X post, but the gathering remained defiant until evening. Police afterwards entered the site, announced protesters could no longer stay, and began pushing them back, prompting some to flee while others refused to leave.
The incident has spotlighted the broader frustration over job prospects, transparency and government accountability, with the Cockroach Janta Party quickly evolving from a niche online complaint to a nationwide protest movement. The clash in Delhi—tightened with police batons, tear gas, and barricades—highlights the volatile tensions surrounding the nation's education policies and youth unrest.
