Key facts
- India's youth-led 'cockroach movement' stated its founder, Abhijeet Dipke, is not in detention or arrest.
- The movement previously reported Dipke had been 'picked up' by police.
- Thousands of demonstrators marched on parliament demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over exam paper leaks.
- Health Minister J.P. Nadda reportedly promised to consider the movement's demands.
- Protesters are also demanding the release of activist Sonam Wangchuk and compensation for exam aspirants.
Thousands of demonstrators, primarily youth, took to the streets of New Delhi on Monday to protest alleged exam paper leaks and demand the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The youth-led 'cockroach movement,' also known as the Cockroach Janta Party, organized the march towards parliament on the opening day of its monsoon session.
Earlier in the day, the movement reported that its founder, Abhijeet Dipke, had been 'picked up' by the police. However, the group later clarified that Dipke was not in detention or under arrest. The movement's chief spokesperson, Saurav Das, stated that Health Minister J.P. Nadda had promised to discuss the group's demands within the government.
The protesters' demands include the release of hunger-striking activist Sonam Wangchuk, the resignation of the education minister, and compensation of 10 million rupees ($104,000) each for exam aspirants who allegedly died by suicide due to exam fraud. The movement has gained significant traction among young Indians frustrated by issues such as unemployment and frequent leaks of examination papers.
Police deployed tear gas and baton charges to disperse the crowds attempting to breach security barricades near parliament. While Delhi police denied excessive force, Reuters journalists reported tear gas being fired and some protesters throwing stones. The protest is seen as a significant challenge to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government.