Cockroach Movement: India Protesters Vow to Continue Campaign Against Education Minister

NEW DELHI: India’s Cockroach Movement intensified its campaign on Tuesday, with the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) pledging to continue nationwide protests until Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigns. The announcement came a day after violent clashes in New Delhi left at least 180 people injured.

Thousands of demonstrators gathered at Jantar Mantar on Monday to demand Pradhan’s resignation and broader reforms to India’s examination system. The protest marked one of the largest public demonstrations against Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government since he secured a third term in 2024.

“We won’t stop. Pradhan has to be sacked,” CJP leader Ashutosh Ranka said in a social media post.

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Hundreds of protesters remained at the Jantar Mantar protest site on Tuesday. Many called for sweeping reforms to improve transparency and fairness in India’s education system.

Police used tear gas and batons on Monday to prevent protesters from marching toward Parliament. The confrontation became one of Delhi’s largest street protests in nearly five years.

Delhi Police reported that 178 people suffered injuries during the clashes. Officials said the injured included 118 police personnel, among them senior officers, and around 60 protesters.

Police accused sections of the crowd of violent behaviour. Protest organisers rejected those claims and accused authorities of using excessive force against peaceful demonstrators.

“It’s a shameful day in the history of Indian democracy,” Ranka told AFP. He said students protesting over legitimate concerns faced unnecessary violence.

Ranka also confirmed that he met senior minister JP Nadda on Monday. However, he said the government has not responded to the movement’s demands.

The protests highlight growing frustration among young Indians over repeated examination scandals and limited employment opportunities despite the country’s strong economic growth.

Public anger intensified after authorities ordered 2.2 million medical students to retake a national entrance examination because of a leaked question paper. Another controversy involving the online marking system for nearly two million high school students further damaged confidence in the country’s education system.