Thousands of students and young Indians continued protesting in central New Delhi on Tuesday, a day after police used tear gas and batons to stop demonstrators from marching toward Parliament over alleged examination leaks and failures in India’s education system.
The youth-led movement has placed growing pressure on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government, with protesters accusing national leaders of avoiding direct accountability while police confront students on the streets.
The protests are led by the Cockroach Janta Party, or CJP, a youth movement founded by activist Abhijeet Dipke. The group began as an online satirical campaign in May and later developed into a wider platform for students frustrated by examination irregularities, unemployment and alleged corruption.
Anger intensified after allegations of a leaked National Eligibility cum Entrance Test, known as NEET, which determines admission to medical colleges. About two million candidates were affected by the controversy, according to Reuters.
The CJP began a continuous protest at New Delhi’s Jantar Mantar on June 20. Its demands include the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, stronger safeguards against paper leaks, compensation for families of students who died by suicide and greater accountability for repeated recruitment and examination failures.
Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk joined the demonstration on June 28 and began an indefinite hunger strike, bringing wider national attention to the campaign.
Tensions escalated Monday during the CJP’s “Sansad Chalo,” or march to Parliament. Police had restricted the demonstration to Jantar Mantar and said protesters lacked permission to march toward the parliamentary district.
When demonstrators moved past barricades, police fired tear gas and carried out a baton charge. Organizers accused officers of attacking peaceful students, while Delhi Police said sections of the crowd damaged vehicles and assaulted personnel.
Authorities reported injuries to 118 police officers and about 60 demonstrators. Roughly 70 people were detained during the confrontation.
Protesters accuse Modi of remaining publicly silent during much of the agitation and failing to speak directly with students. The government has rejected calls for Pradhan’s resignation.
A cabinet minister conveyed Modi’s assurance that authorities were taking action, including arrests connected to alleged leaks and the administration of a fresh examination. BJP president J.P. Nadda also met protest representatives after Monday’s clashes.
Those steps have failed to end the demonstrations. CJP supporters returned to Jantar Mantar on Tuesday, while opposition leaders accused the government of relying on police force instead of meaningful dialogue.
The movement has also spread beyond Delhi, with solidarity demonstrations reported in cities including Mumbai and Pune. Organizers say protests will continue until the government announces firm reforms and accepts responsibility for failures affecting millions of students.
