Thousands of protesters gathered in central Delhi as the youth-led Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) organized its largest demonstration yet, marching toward Parliament to demand major reforms in India’s education system. The protest drew students from across the country, bringing traffic to a standstill and increasing pressure on the government over the ongoing examination controversy.
The movement has been protesting for weeks, calling for the resignation of the education minister following recent examination paper leak allegations. Protesters accused the government of failing to ensure transparency and fairness in the country’s examination system.
Although authorities initially allowed the demonstrations to continue, the education minister reportedly dismissed the protesters as the “B-team of disruptive elements.” Protest organizers also claimed that no government representative had met them until Monday despite the growing demonstrations.
Tensions escalated after protesters alleged that mobile internet services were suspended in the protest area. According to claims shared by participants on social media, they received official notifications informing them that internet access had been temporarily restricted. These claims have not been independently verified, and authorities had not officially commented on the reported internet suspension at the time of reporting.
A large-scale security operation was launched across central Delhi, with hundreds of police officers and paramilitary personnel deployed near Parliament and other sensitive locations. Police ordered demonstrators gathered at Jantar Mantar to vacate the area while attempting to stop the march from moving closer to Parliament.
The situation became more tense after reports that activist and educator Sonam Wangchuk was taken to a hospital by police during the 21st day of his hunger strike in support of the movement. The incident drew further criticism and encouraged more demonstrators to join the protest.
Despite its name, the Cockroach Janta Party is not a registered political party. The movement began as a satirical campaign before evolving into a youth-led protest platform. Supporters adopted the name “cockroach” after a reported remark by a senior judge, embracing it as a symbol of resilience.
The demonstrations have been fueled largely by the controversy surrounding the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET). Millions of students appeared for the medical entrance examination after months of preparation, but the test was later cancelled following allegations of a question paper leak, forcing candidates to retake the examination under tighter security measures.
Opposition leaders expressed support for the protesters and criticized the police response. They argued that students have the right to demand a fair examination system and called on the government to address concerns surrounding the examination process instead of relying on force to manage demonstrations.
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