Narendra Modi has pledged to establish “fast-track courts” to accelerate the prosecution of corrupt officials involved in examination paper leaks. This move comes as the Indian Prime Minister attempts to calm the “cockroach” protest movement, a youth-led uprising that has reached the capital and posed a significant challenge to his administration.
In his first public commentary regarding the movement, Modi posted on X, stating, “Nothing is more important than the welfare and future of our youth… Those who try to harm the future of our youth will not be spared.”
The proposal for expedited justice aims to bypass India’s heavily congested judicial system, where legal proceedings often span decades. However, the offer was quickly dismissed by the Cockroach Janta party (CJP)—the satirical name adopted by protesters after India’s top judge referred to unemployed youths as “cockroaches.”
The CJP is demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, a core requirement alongside comprehensive reform of the national education system.
Approximately 50,000 people demonstrated in Delhi on Monday, despite police denying permission to march on Parliament and subsequently using baton charges and tear gas to disperse the crowd. By Wednesday, over 1,000 protesters remained at the CJP’s central Delhi site, enduring intense heat and humidity. Many participants had traveled long distances to join the demonstration.
Modi’s recent comments suggest a potential softening of the government’s stance. While ministers have expressed a willingness to engage with the CJP, they have notably avoided addressing the demand for Pradhan’s resignation.
The protest site at Jantar Mantar is currently overflowing with supporters. As the crowd expands beyond the designated area and spills onto the streets, volunteers have been seen distributing food and water to both protesters and police officers, while others manage the growing amount of litter.
Sympathy for the CJP’s cause is spreading, with young demonstrators in various other Indian cities holding their own rallies.
At a press conference on Wednesday, opposition leader Rahul Gandhi intensified his criticism, demanding not only Pradhan’s resignation but also a formal apology from Modi for the failure to maintain a fair education system.
Gandhi highlighted that despite 152 exam leaks over the last decade, there has not been a single conviction.
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke stated that the movement will not seek out government officials; instead, he insisted that if ministers wish to negotiate, they must come to the protest site to engage with the demonstrators in public.
