Massive Protest in Delhi Demands Education Minister's Resignation
Tens of thousands of protesters defied police orders and descended on Delhi on Monday to demand the resignation of India's education minister, Dharmendra Pradhan, in one of the largest anti-government demonstrations in years. The crowd, largely made up of students and Gen Z-ers, filled the streets in the heart of India's capital from early morning, shouting anti-government slogans. Hundreds had already camped out overnight.
Delhi police, under the control of the central government, had denied permission for the march. A ban was imposed on all public gatherings, roads were barricaded, and the internet was shut down in the center. Attempts by protesters to move towards the parliament building were met with police brutality, including the use of batons and teargas. However, this did little to prevent protesters from turning out in their thousands, many expressing anger at Narendra Modi's government and his ruling Bharatiya Janata party (BJP), accusing them of failing the country's young people.
Youth-Led Movement Inspired by Chief Justice's Remark
The protest was called by the Cockroach Janta party (CJP), a new youth-led movement whose name was inspired by remarks made in May by Surya Kant, the chief justice of India, when he called some activists and unemployed youth "cockroaches." The CJP began as satire, founded by graduate Abhijeet Dipke in May, but has swiftly mobilized into a serious political challenge to the Modi government. Its core demand is the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over exam chaos, after this year's medical entrance exam—where more than 2 million students compete for just 130,000 places—was again leaked to the highest bidder, forcing it to be scrapped and students to face retaking the grueling tests. The fiasco has been linked to more than 20 suicides.
Wider frustrations over alleged failures in the education system and a lack of job opportunities for India's youth have also mobilized support. Rage was palpable on Delhi's streets on Monday. Harion Sharma, 18, was among those forced to retake the medical exam last month after it was leaked, which he said had put "unbearable" pressure on him and his fellow students. "This is a government that does not care about education, it does not care about the pressures and pain of young people. Because of those leaks, students have died. So we are here to call for accountability and for the education minister to resign. We are young but we are powerful," Sharma said.
Police Force Condemned by Opposition
The use of police force against protesters was met with condemnation by opposition politicians. Speaking outside parliament, Priyanka Gandhi, a leader of the opposition Congress party, said: "There are massive issues … but you are firing teargas at children and beating them up? For what?" For weeks, the government had ignored CJP supporters camped out less than a mile from parliament. Pradhan had sought to dismiss their calls for his resignation by calling them "terrorists." However, after the huge turnout on Monday, the Modi government invited several CJP spokespeople for talks. In a social media post, CJP spokesperson Saurav Das said they had waited two hours and were given a brief meeting with a cabinet minister, JP Nadda. Das said the government had made no commitments so far.
Hunger Strike by Activist Galvanizes Protest
The CJP protest had been galvanized by a hunger strike carried out by renowned engineer and education activist Sonam Wangchuk, who in solidarity with the students has refused all food and water for the past 21 days until Pradhan agrees to resign. Nationwide outrage grew after Delhi police arrived early on Sunday morning and forcibly removed Wangchuk against his will, with footage of the incident going viral. Wangchuk was taken to a government hospital where he claimed he was being "held hostage." In a statement, his wife, Gitanjali Angmo, condemned the heavy police presence around Wangchuk in the hospital ward. "It is not medical care," she said. "It is illegal detention."
In response, organizers of the CJP also began a hunger strike and called on supporters to join Monday's march, which Wangchuk said would be "India's second freedom movement." Amrita, 27, said she had taken a day off work to join the protest, calling the government's treatment of Wangchuk "shameless." "We have a coward government who is afraid of the young people and afraid of Sonam Wangchuk. He is a brilliant brain and he has put his life on the line for young people. How he is being treated is a shame on India. That's why the Gen Zs have come out today to speak out," she said.
By Monday evening there had been no formal response by Pradhan to the calls for his resignation, and CJP organizers said they would remain at the protest site. In a handwritten note from hospital, Wangchuk said that "seeing the brutality with which peacefully protesting youth are being dealt with, I have decided to continue my fast."
