The protests gained momentum after allegations of a leak of medical school examination papers forced more than two million medical students to retake their exams. The controversy has also been linked to at least 12 student suicides, increasing pressure on the government from student groups and opposition parties.
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Rahul Gandhi and other opposition leaders were detained on Tuesday during a sit-in protest outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence in New Delhi. The opposition leaders accused the government of ignoring student concerns and failing to address demands for educational reform and greater accountability.
Gandhi was released late on Tuesday following the detention. The protest leaders had also raised concerns over what they described as an aggressive government response to the student demonstrations.
In his first remarks after protesters marched towards Parliament on Monday, Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan criticised Gandhi’s protest action in a post on X on Tuesday night. He accused Gandhi of continuing to use students as political instruments to create disruption.
“The students of India deserve far better than being treated as props in a political campaign. They deserve certainty over chaos, solutions over slogans, and responsibility over disruption,” Pradhan wrote.
He further stated, “We owe our students more than outrage. We owe them answers, reforms, and accountability. That is exactly what our government remains committed to delivering.”
Protest Movement Expands Across Cities
The Cockroach Janta Party has gained millions of followers on social media since its launch two months ago. The growing support for the movement reflects increasing frustration among young Indians over issues including employment shortages and repeated examination paper leaks, which protesters claim have become frequent.
On Monday, police in New Delhi confronted demonstrators as they marched towards Parliament. Authorities used tear gas and batons to prevent protesters from moving forward. According to police officials, 118 police personnel were injured, while another 60 people were also reported injured during the confrontation.
Similar protests were held in Mumbai and Bengaluru, attracting hundreds of participants who expressed support for student demands.
On Wednesday, hundreds of protesters continued to remain at the Jantar Mantar protest site in New Delhi, as the Cockroach Janta Party announced that it would continue its campaign for educational reforms and government accountability.
The movement received further momentum after activist Sonam Wangchuk extended his support. Wangchuk began a hunger strike on June 28 but was forcibly shifted to a hospital by police on Saturday.
On Tuesday, he was transferred to a private hospital following a court order issued after his wife filed a petition alleging that he had been illegally detained.
The ongoing protests have intensified political pressure on the government, highlighting growing concerns among students and opposition parties over examination security, education reforms, and accountability within the country’s education system.
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