Thousands of supporters of the youth-led Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) gathered in Delhi and attempted to march towards Parliament, defying a police restriction, while demanding the resignation of India's Education Minister over alleged examination paper leaks and wider concerns about the education system.
Police personnel stopped the march using barricades, leading to clashes as protesters attempted to move forward. Several demonstrators claimed they were injured during baton charges. The police did not issue any immediate comment regarding the allegations.
The protest followed weeks of demonstrations over alleged examination paper leaks, which supporters said represented deeper problems within India's education system. The movement has expanded into one of the most prominent expressions of public dissent against Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government in recent years.
The protest gained renewed momentum after activist Sonam Wangchuk was forcibly moved to a hospital by police on the 21st day of his hunger strike in support of the movement. His wife stated that the fast was continuing. On Monday, Wangchuk appealed to doctors to discharge him so that he could participate in the march, but he was not permitted to leave.
The movement derives its name from a remark made by India's Chief Justice, who faced criticism after comparing sections of unemployed young people to "cockroaches" during a court hearing. Although the Chief Justice later withdrew the remark, CJP founder Dipke adopted the term and transformed the cockroach into the movement's symbol.
Despite authorities making it clear that protesters would not be allowed to march to Parliament, tens of thousands of students, parents, teachers, and professionals gathered at Jantar Mantar, a 300-year-old observatory in central Delhi, from early morning. The gathering continued despite heavy rainfall.
The contrast between the protest location and the surrounding security arrangements was evident. Young demonstrators carrying Indian flags stood in queues for food, prepared placards, and took photographs, while large numbers of police and paramilitary personnel blocked roads leading towards Parliament.
Volunteers distributed food and water among protesters, patriotic songs played through loudspeakers, and organisers repeatedly appealed to supporters to avoid confrontation with police if they were stopped.
When the march began, protesters moved onto the streets but were halted at multiple barricades. Many participants sat on the roads while waving flags and raising slogans. Some groups separated from the main gathering and attempted to reach Parliament through smaller lanes.
Inside Parliament, the first day of the monsoon session was repeatedly adjourned as opposition members protested over the alleged examination paper leaks and other issues.
As police attempted to prevent groups from crossing barricades, reports of injuries began emerging. Some protesters returned to Jantar Mantar with head injuries or difficulty walking, while others were carried back by fellow demonstrators. Authorities also suspended mobile internet services in parts of central Delhi, affecting access to messaging applications and social media platforms.
Rainfall did not significantly disrupt the demonstration. Volunteers covered small groups of protesters with blue tarpaulins as slogans continued and soaked participants waited for updates from police barricades.
Among those who travelled to Delhi for the protest was commercial pilot Samrat Khanna, who said he had changed his flying schedule to attend the march.
"I felt I had to be here," he said. "I could not just watch from the sidelines."
Many other participants expressed similar views, saying the alleged examination paper leaks had become a symbol of broader concerns related to employment opportunities, transparency, accountability, and the future of young people.
These concerns have contributed to the rapid growth of the Cockroach Janta Party, founded by Dipke. The movement, which began as a small online campaign during its first protest in June, has since expanded to cities across India, attracting students, professionals, activists, and opposition political leaders.
By evening, the situation at Jantar Mantar changed as police personnel wearing riot gear entered the protest area and announced through loudspeakers that demonstrators no longer had permission to remain at the site. Officers began moving people away, causing some protesters to leave while others formed human chains and refused to move.
There was also brief uncertainty regarding Dipke's location after the CJP initially claimed that he had been detained. The organisation later clarified that police had attempted to take him into custody but protesters prevented the action. Delhi Police subsequently rejected the claim, describing the allegations as "entirely false".
The large-scale demonstration marked a significant expansion of the CJP movement, reflecting growing mobilisation among students, parents, teachers, and professionals over allegations of examination irregularities and concerns surrounding accountability in the education system.
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