Modi Pledges Fast-Track Courts Amid Nationwide Protests Over Exam Fraud

Protesters from the Cockroach Janta Party continue to occupy streets in New Delhi, calling for the resignation of Education Minister Pradhan.

Published On 23 Jul 202623 Jul 2026

In his first public response to youth-led unrest, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has promised the establishment of fast-track courts to prosecute individuals involved in examination paper leaks.

Large-scale demonstrations have escalated throughout New Delhi following reports of irregularities in national medical school entrance exams, resulting in a recent crackdown by security forces.

Protesters have occupied Parliament Street for three consecutive days, camping along the vital thoroughfare that links Parliament House to Connaught Place, the capital’s central business district.

“Nothing is more important than the welfare and future of our youth!” Modi stated on X on Thursday.

“We have decided to set up fast-track courts to ensure swift and stringent punishment for those involved in paper leaks. … Those who try to harm the future of our youth will not be spared.”

The ongoing unrest is being led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), a satirical online movement launched in May that has transitioned into a major national platform. The group is demanding systemic testing reforms and the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

During an interview with news agency ANI at the Jantar Mantar protest site, CJP founding president Abhijeet Dipke accused outside agitators of attempting to incite violence to discredit the movement.

“People are being sent from outside to deliberately disrupt the protest,” Dipke told ANI. “We have been sitting here for a month. No such incident has happened. … Goons are being sent from outside … to deliberately incite people.”

Dipke later expressed on X that the Prime Minister seemed “ready to shut down all of Delhi, but not sack Dharmendra Pradhan”.

CJP spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka dismissed the judicial proposal as an inadequate response to systemic failures.

“The announcement of fast-track courts is not a real solution. It is merely a distraction,” Ranka stated at Jantar Mantar. “Paper leaks are not happening because India lacked fast-track courts. They are happening because Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has been completely incompetent.”

The CJP’s list of demands includes Pradhan’s immediate resignation, the dismissal of charges against peaceful demonstrators, and 10 million rupees ($120,000) in financial aid for the families of at least 12 students who have died by suicide following recent exam cancellations.

“On Monday, we saw this group call for a march to Parliament, and we witnessed unprecedented scenes in New Delhi, with tens of thousands of people attending,” Al Jazeera’s Neeha Poonia reported from New Delhi.

“In the last few hours, we’re hearing that 16 metro stations in and around the protest site have been closed by officials,” she added on Thursday. “Protesters are stating that the police crackdown on Monday has only strengthened their resolve to continue the protest.”

On Monday, police used tear gas and batons to disperse demonstrators marching toward Parliament. Smaller-scale protests have also emerged in major urban centers including Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Patna.

The rapid growth of the CJP highlights escalating discontent among India’s youth regarding high unemployment rates and frequent exam leaks. The movement has also offered opposition leaders a strategic opening to challenge Modi and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.

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