The renewed gathering followed Monday’s massive demonstration, when tens of thousands of young men and women gathered in the national capital and attempted to march towards Parliament despite a police ban. The protest, which had continued for nearly a month, turned violent after security forces used batons and tear gas to disperse demonstrators.
Central Delhi witnessed widespread clashes, leaving at least 60 protesters injured. Police also dismantled the protest stage and temporary shelters at the main demonstration site. Authorities said 118 police personnel were injured during the confrontation, while 70 protesters were detained.
Neither the police nor Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government issued comments on allegations regarding the use of batons and tear gas against demonstrators. Opposition parties condemned the police action and criticised the handling of the protest.
The Cockroach Janta Party, although not a registered political party, has developed into a major youth movement demanding accountability in India’s education system. The movement was inspired by remarks made earlier this year by India’s Chief Justice, who used the term “cockroach” while referring to unemployed young people involved in journalism and activism. Following public criticism, he clarified that he was referring only to individuals with “fake and bogus degrees.”
Monday’s large-scale participation highlighted the growing influence of the CJP, which managed to bring tens of thousands of people onto the streets despite not having formal political status.
The protesters had been stationed at Jantar Mantar, a 300-year-old observatory in Delhi, for the past month. The movement gained nationwide attention after activist and educationist Sonam Wangchuk joined the protest on June 28 and began an indefinite hunger strike supporting the demands of demonstrators.
Wangchuk was forcibly removed from the protest location by police on Saturday and taken to a hospital, where he continues his fast.
The movement has become one of the most prominent public expressions of opposition against the Modi government in recent years. Wangchuk and CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke have received support from several major opposition parties, farmer leaders, activists and Bollywood actors.
Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi said the students’ demands were legitimate and described Modi as “the most anti-youth prime minister India has ever had.”
The government engaged with the protesters for the first time on Monday, when Health Minister JP Nadda met representatives of the CJP to discuss their demands. The meeting took place as thousands of people from across the country arrived in Delhi following the CJP’s call for a march towards Parliament on the opening day of the monsoon session.
Nadda, who is also a senior leader of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, said the discussion took place in a cordial atmosphere. He requested protesters to end their sit-in demonstration and cooperate with the administration in restoring normal conditions.
CJP spokesperson Saurav Das said the group’s 10-minute meeting with Nadda ended with an assurance that the government would examine the issues raised by protesters, but no concrete commitments were made. Another CJP leader, Ashutosh Ranka, described the four-hour wait before the meeting as a waste of time.
The possibility of the CJP ending its protest briefly appeared after the meeting with Nadda. However, the group’s position hardened after internet services, which were reportedly blocked in the area throughout the day, were restored and revealed the extent of the violence.
During the clashes, injured protesters were brought back to Jantar Mantar. Volunteer doctors treated demonstrators, including a young man suffering from a severe head injury and another student with a broken leg.
While CJP representatives were meeting Nadda, police and paramilitary forces moved to clear Jantar Mantar. Plainclothes officers, many with covered faces, joined uniformed personnel in pursuing protesters and using batons.
Announcements repeatedly made through loudspeakers instructed protesters to leave immediately, stating that the demonstration had ended.
As protesters attempted to escape, many climbed over barricades in panic. Several people fell to the ground, some were struck with batons, friends and family members were separated, and women were seen crying during the chaos.
The senior police officer supervising the operation declined to respond to questions. Minutes later, a senior female officer escorted a journalist away from the area.
After internet access was restored, videos circulated on social media showing security forces allegedly beating protesters, including women, with several people lying unconscious on the ground.
On Monday night, the CJP returned to the Jantar Mantar protest site and declared on social media that the peaceful demonstration would continue.
“Despite the police brutality, the brave protestors of CJP are back. Delhi, come out and join us at Jantar Mantar - this is now or never! Dharmendra Pradhan Must Resign!” the group stated.
In an official statement, police accused protesters of displaying “unruly, aggressive and violent behaviour,” refusing to disperse and violating restrictions despite repeated warnings.
Police alleged that protesters attacked personnel with stones and other objects, attempted to break through barricades, damaged police and government vehicles, destroyed public property and carried out large-scale violence.
The CJP rejected the police version of events, accusing officers of initiating the violence. The group urged injured supporters and those requiring legal assistance to contact its representatives.
“I apologise to all our supporters, especially the girls who were brutally beaten by male police officers. We could have done better. I could have done better to protect you from the inhumane actions of the Delhi police,” Dipke wrote on X.
In another statement, he said an injured supporter was in critical condition at a hospital and that he would visit her.
The CJP’s central demand is a major reform of India’s education system, including stronger accountability over alleged examination paper leaks. The resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan became the movement’s primary demand after allegations of irregularities in the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test.
Nearly 2.28 million candidates appeared for the medical entrance examination on May 3. The examination was cancelled days later after reports of a paper leak emerged, and a re-test was conducted weeks afterward.
More than 20 students have since died by suicide, with families claiming they were devastated by the examination controversy.
Protesters have demanded that Pradhan accept moral responsibility for the alleged leak and resign. The minister has rejected the demand and accused the CJP and its supporters of being the “B-team of disruptive elements.”
The continuing standoff between the CJP and authorities has transformed the education reform campaign into a major national protest, raising questions over youth grievances, examination accountability and the government’s response to public demonstrations.
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