Key facts
- Thousands of protesters gathered in Delhi demanding education reforms and the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
- Police used batons and tear gas to disperse protesters, injuring dozens.
- The 'Cockroach Janta Party' (CJP) movement, inspired by a judicial remark, has drawn tens of thousands to the streets.
- Activist Sonam Wangchuk's hunger strike and subsequent removal by police have garnered attention.
- Opposition leaders have voiced support for the protesters' demands.
- The CJP has vowed to continue its protest despite the police crackdown.
Thousands of protesters have reassembled in Delhi, continuing their demonstration a day after a forceful police crackdown on supporters of the 'Cockroach Janta Party' (CJP), a youth-led movement advocating for education reforms and the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The movement, which began as a satirical response to remarks made by India's chief justice, has evolved into a significant expression of public dissent.
On Monday, tens of thousands of young people defied a police ban and attempted to march on parliament. The protest site at Jantar Mantar, a historic observatory, witnessed significant violence as police used batons and tear gas, resulting in at least 60 injured protesters and 70 detentions. Police also dismantled the protest stage and tents. Several injured protesters, including women, reported being targeted by police.
While police stated 118 personnel were also injured and accused protesters of violent behavior, vandalism, and attacking officers, the CJP rejected this account, labeling the police as aggressors. Opposition parties, including Rahul Gandhi, have condemned the violence and supported the protesters' demands as legitimate.
Activist Sonam Wangchuk, who had joined the protest and begun a hunger strike, was forcibly removed by police and taken to the hospital. Health Minister JP Nadda met with CJP leaders, requesting an end to the sit-in, but the meeting yielded no concrete assurances. The CJP's stance reportedly hardened after internet services were restored, revealing the scale of the police action. Despite the crackdown, the CJP reclaimed the protest site and vowed to continue their demonstration, demanding accountability for alleged exam paper leaks and Pradhan's resignation.