Responding to the growing unrest, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the welfare and future of India’s youth remained the highest priority. In a social media post, he promised the establishment of fast-track courts to ensure strict punishment for those involved in question paper leaks.
“Nothing is more important than the welfare and future of our youth,” Modi said, adding that those who attempt to damage the future of young people would not be spared.
The protesters, largely consisting of students and young people, have been demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged examination paper leaks and irregularities in the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) and other examinations.
The protests intensified on Monday after police used tear gas and baton charges against tens of thousands of demonstrators attempting to march towards Parliament on the opening day of the Monsoon Session. In response, protesters allegedly threw stones, leading to violent clashes that became the largest street demonstration in New Delhi in nearly five years.
According to police officials, at least 178 people, including security personnel, were injured during the violence.
The CJP movement, which has gained millions of followers on social media platforms, initially emerged in May as a satirical response after Chief Justice Surya Kant was reportedly accused of comparing young people to “cockroaches” and “parasites” during a court hearing.
The movement has since expanded its focus to include issues related to unemployment, youth opportunities and allegations of increasingly authoritarian governance under the Modi administration.
Protests Become Major Challenge for Government
The demonstrations have developed into a significant political challenge for Prime Minister Modi, with opposition parties supporting the protesters and disrupting parliamentary proceedings while demanding an apology from the Prime Minister over Monday’s police action.
On Wednesday, large crowds gathered around the Jantar Mantar protest site, with clashes between protesters and police continuing late into the night.
CJP spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka alleged in a social media post that Delhi Police carried out a heavy crackdown against protesters outside Jantar Mantar on Wednesday.
Delhi Police, however, stated that protesters attacked officers with stones and plastic bottles, resulting in serious injuries to police personnel.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi criticised the government in a post on X on Thursday, accusing Prime Minister Modi of harming the future of young people and alleging that the education system had been damaged while protecting those responsible for irregularities.
The protest movement has also spread beyond the national capital, with smaller demonstrations reported on Wednesday in major cities including Mumbai, Bengaluru and Patna.
In neighbouring Bangladesh, students announced a torch rally on Thursday evening in solidarity with the protesters in New Delhi. Youth-led demonstrations in Bangladesh in 2024 had resulted in the fall of the government led by Sheikh Hasina and her removal from office.
A series of examination-related controversies in India has raised concerns over the credibility of the testing system. One major incident involved the leak of a medical entrance examination paper, forcing more than two million candidates to retake the test. Another dispute involving online evaluation of examinations taken by nearly two million high school students has further intensified public anger.
The expanding youth-led movement, backed by opposition parties and amplified through social media networks, has placed examination integrity, employment concerns and government accountability at the centre of national debate, creating sustained pressure on authorities to address allegations of irregularities and restore confidence in the education system.
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