A massive turn‑out of youths and young adults gathered at Jantar Mantar, a historic observatory in Delhi, on Monday to press for the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and demand a complete overhaul of the country’s education system. The protest, part of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) movement, has grown from a handful of activists into a movement drawing tens of thousands, with support from major opposition parties, farmer leaders and even Bollywood celebrities.
The demonstrators attempted to march to the Parliament grounds on the opening day of the monsoon session, defying a police ban. Police reacted with batons and tear gas, injuring more than 60 protesters and detaining 70. They also dismantled the stage and tents that had been set up at the protest site. According to a police statement, the protesters displayed “unruly, aggressive and violent behaviour”, but the CJP spokesperson rejected the account, accusing officers of being the aggressors.
Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi criticised the violence, calling the Prime Minister the most anti‑youth leader and demanding resignations of both the PM and Home Minister Amit Shah. He staged a march to the PM’s residence to demand answers for the brutality against students.
The CJP began as a satirical political movement after the Chief Justice of India’s remarks that “unemployed young people” resemble a cockroach, sparking outrage over alleged fake degrees. The movement re‑emerged when activist Sonam Wangchuk announced an indefinite hunger strike to support their demands on 28 June.
The confrontation revealed the scale of the violence as social media feeds filled with videos of police beating protesters, including women, with sticks and tear gas. CJP communications urged injured supporters to seek legal assistance and promised continued protests despite the crackdown.
Images from the clash show dozens of protesters bleeding from head wounds and broken legs, as well as police officers injured in the skirmish, underscoring the intensity of the encounter.
