The renewed protest 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 restrictions imposed by authorities. The month-long protest movement witnessed violent clashes after security forces used batons and tear gas to disperse demonstrators.
Central Delhi became the scene of widespread confrontation, leaving at least 60 protesters injured. Police also removed the protest stage and temporary shelters from the main demonstration area. Authorities stated that 118 police personnel were injured during the clashes, while 70 protesters were detained.
Neither the police nor Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government issued any statement regarding allegations of excessive use of force, including the use of batons and tear gas against protesters. Opposition parties condemned the police action and criticised the government’s handling of the demonstration.
The Cockroach Janta Party, despite not being a registered political party, has emerged as a significant youth movement seeking accountability and reforms 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, the Chief Justice clarified that the remark referred only to individuals holding “fake and bogus degrees.”
Monday’s large-scale participation highlighted the growing reach of the CJP, which succeeded in bringing tens of thousands of people onto the streets despite having no formal political recognition.
The protesters had been stationed at Jantar Mantar, a 300-year-old observatory in Delhi, for nearly one month. The movement gained nationwide attention after activist and educationist Sonam Wangchuk joined the protest on June 28 and began an indefinite hunger strike in support of the demonstrators’ demands.
Wangchuk was forcibly removed from the protest site by police on Saturday and taken to a hospital, where he remains on hunger strike.
The movement has become one of the most prominent public demonstrations 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 demands raised by students were legitimate and described Modi as “the most anti-youth prime minister India has ever had.”
The government held its first formal engagement with protesters 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 reached 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 was conducted in a cordial atmosphere. He appealed to 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 concluded with an assurance that the government would examine the issues raised by protesters, but no specific commitments were provided. Another CJP leader, Ashutosh Ranka, criticised the four-hour wait before the meeting and described it as a waste of time.
The possibility of the CJP ending its protest briefly emerged after the meeting with Nadda. However, the group’s stance hardened after internet services, reportedly suspended in the area throughout the day, were restored and revealed the scale of the violence.
During the clashes, injured protesters were brought back to Jantar Mantar. Volunteer doctors provided medical assistance to demonstrators, including a young man suffering from a serious head injury and another student with a broken leg.
While CJP representatives were meeting Nadda, police and paramilitary forces began clearing the Jantar Mantar protest site. Plainclothes officers, many with covered faces, joined uniformed personnel in pursuing protesters and using batons.
Repeated announcements 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, families and friends were separated, and women were seen crying amid the chaos.
The senior police officer supervising the operation declined to answer 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 assaulting protesters, including women, with several individuals seen lying unconscious on the ground.
On Monday night, the CJP returned to the Jantar Mantar protest site and announced through 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 its 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 breach barricades, damaged police and government vehicles, destroyed public property and carried out widespread violence.
The CJP rejected the police allegations, accusing officers of starting 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, Dipke said an injured supporter was in critical condition at a hospital and that he would visit her.
The central demand of the CJP is a major overhaul of India’s education system, including stronger accountability over alleged examination paper leaks. The demand for Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation became the movement’s primary focus following 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 deeply affected 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 ongoing confrontation between the CJP and authorities has transformed an education reform campaign into a major national protest, highlighting growing concerns over examination accountability, youth grievances and the government’s response to large-scale public demonstrations.
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