Key facts
- India's 'Cockroach' movement threatened to restart protests after accusing the government of breaking a promise.
- Hundreds of students have reportedly been detained or harassed, with police filing cases in multiple states.
- The movement agreed to halt demonstrations following the education minister's resignation and assurances of no punitive action.
- The CJP has established a legal fund to assist protesters facing criminal charges.
- The government has pledged to address the issues that sparked the protests and announced a panel for examination system reform.
India's youth-led 'Cockroach' movement has threatened to resume nationwide protests, accusing the government of reneging on its promise not to penalize student demonstrators. The movement, which successfully pushed for the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over exam paper leaks and other irregularities, stated that hundreds of students have been detained or harassed by police.
The Cockroach Janta party (CJP) had agreed to call off demonstrations on Saturday after Pradhan resigned and senior ministers assured the group that no punitive action would be taken against protesters. However, on Monday, the CJP claimed the government had broken this agreement. "If the government does not honour the agreement and release everyone detained or arrested, we will be compelled to resume the protest," said CJP spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka.
According to the CJP, at least 100 people have been arrested, many on stringent, non-bailable charges. Police cases have been filed against students in Delhi, Assam, West Bengal, and Bihar, all states governed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata party (BJP). Neha Bora, head of the All India Students Association and a key figure in the CJP movement, traveled to Bihar to advocate for the withdrawal of cases against protesters there. In a separate incident in Bihar, a police officer was suspended for using an assault rifle to disperse student protesters.
In West Bengal, where the BJP recently gained power, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari suggested that protesters were Muslim, and many participants face charges under a new state law. The CJP has established a legal fund to help cover the expenses of protesters implicated in criminal cases, according to spokesperson Saurav Das.
The 'Cockroach' movement, launched in May by 30-year-old public relations graduate Abhijeet Dipke, has garnered millions of social media followers. Last week, hundreds of thousands of students rallied in New Delhi and other cities, demanding Pradhan's resignation and broader reforms to the examination system. Demonstrations in the capital turned violent on July 20 when protesters marched towards parliament, leading to clashes and detentions. The protests represent a significant show of dissent against the Modi government.
The chief justice of India has called for an independent investigation into allegations of police brutality at the Delhi protest, affirming the constitutional right to peaceful protest. Opposition lawmakers also raised the issue in parliament on Monday. The government has pledged to address the concerns that sparked the protests, announcing a panel to oversee an overhaul of India's examination system and introducing a parliamentary measure for tougher penalties against exam paper leaks.