India’s “Cockroach” protest movement vowed on Tuesday to continue demonstrations until Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigns, a day after clashes in New Delhi left at least 178 people injured. Hundreds of protesters remained camped at the Jantar Mantar protest site, demanding systemic changes to the country’s education framework.
On Monday, thousands mobilized by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)—an online movement that has amassed millions of followers since its May launch—marched toward Parliament in one of the largest street rallies the capital has witnessed in roughly five years. The demonstration represents one of the most significant challenges to Prime Minister Narendra Modi since he secured a third term in 2024.
“We won’t stop. Pradhan has to be sacked,” CJP spokesman Ashutosh Ranka posted on social media. Founder Abhijeet Dipke urged supporters not to lose hope, declaring from atop a vehicle: “They want to break our spirit. Do not let them silence you.”
Police deployed tear gas and baton charges on Monday to prevent the crowd from reaching Parliament. In a late-night statement, Delhi Police confirmed 178 injuries, including 118 police personnel, and criticized what they described as “unruly, aggressive and violent behavior” by a “violent mob.” The statement added that approximately 60 protesters were also reported injured.
Organizers condemned the authorities’ “high-handedness,” claiming hundreds of protesters were hurt. “It’s a shameful day in the history of Indian democracy that people, honest students, who had come for a genuine issue were brutally beaten by the Delhi police,” Ranka told AFP. Ranka met with senior minister J.P. Nadda on Monday but said the government had yet to respond to their demands.
Protesters remained defiant. “We have become even more fearless now,” said Chandra Pratap Sishwi, a 25-year-old law student. “When I saw people being beaten up by the police like that, my blood boiled.”
On Tuesday, opposition lawmakers demanded a parliamentary discussion on the alleged “brutality unleashed on students.” Congress leader Rahul Gandhi stated, “Students were beaten for asking legitimate questions about their own future. If parliament cannot discuss the future of India’s youth, what is it for?”
The unrest stems from deep-seated frustration over employment prospects and a series of examination scandals that have eroded public trust in the testing system. Despite rapid economic growth, millions in the world’s most populous nation struggle to secure stable, well-paying jobs.
Last month, 2.2 million aspiring medical students were forced to sit a re-examination under tight security after the original test was canceled following a question paper leak. That incident followed a separate scandal involving the online marking system for exams taken by nearly two million high school students.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju defended the government’s response, noting swift arrests in connection with the paper leaks. He added that Prime Minister Modi had called for a “foolproof system” to prevent future irregularities during a closed-door meeting with allies on Tuesday. Modi has not yet commented directly on the protests.