Thousands of protesters associated with the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) marched toward India's Parliament on Monday to demand the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The demonstration follows a series of reported national exam leaks and ongoing concerns regarding youth unemployment and corruption in the education system. Police utilized tear gas and batons to disperse the crowds after authorities barricaded roads and suspended mobile internet and metro services in the area.
Spokespersons for the CJP stated that Indian Health Minister J.P. Nadda met with representatives for ten minutes to discuss their demands, which include the release of a detained activist. Education Minister Pradhan has not resigned and did not respond to requests for comment. While Delhi police denied the use of violence, witnesses reported physical altercations and the use of tear gas, while local news reports indicated approximately 50 officers were injured by protesters throwing stones.
The movement, founded by Gen Z activists, adopted the name "Cockroach" as a satirical response to a comment made by Supreme Court Chief Justice Surya Kant during a May hearing regarding social media criticism. Members of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have criticized the group, with BJP chief Nitin Nabhi accusing the movement of attempting to "hollow out" the country. Analysts note that despite India's economic growth, youth unemployment remains a central issue for the nation's large young population.