Thousands demonstrate in New Delhi against Modi and Education Minister Pradhan

Background: How the "Cockroach" movement emerged

The trigger for the new wave of protests was the leaking of exam questions for the medical entrance test in May. "More than two million people had to retake the test," ANI reported. The demonstrators accuse the government of corruption and fraud. "The demonstrators accuse the government of corruption and fraud," the agency quoted participants as saying. Alongside the exam scandals, they are mainly driven by high youth unemployment. "Alongside the exam scandals, they are mainly driven by high youth unemployment," it added.

According to government data, the unemployment rate among 15- to 29-year-olds in India stood at 9.9 percent in 2025, and at 13.6 percent in urban areas. The economic situation of many young people is considered one of the central drivers of the protests. The CJP was, according to its own statements, founded in May and spread quickly via social media. CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke announced that he too would go on an "indefinite hunger strike."

Conflict with the police

Supporters of the movement, led by teenagers and young adults, attempted to march to parliament at the start of the new parliamentary session despite a ban. The Indian police had previously prohibited the protest march. As justification, they cited strict security measures for the parliamentary session as well as an assembly ban for more than five people outside a designated protest zone. The CJP declared before the demonstration that the protest march would take place as planned.

Television images showed police officers beating some demonstrators with batons. Near the Jantar Mantar protest site, demonstrators ran for cover as police in blue gear charged at them. Some demonstrators tried to prevent the police action, leading to brief scuffles. "However, the police rejected the accusation of using force," the police stated. "However, the police rejected the accusation of using force," it was added.

Activist Sonam Wangchuk, who had declared his solidarity with the CJP, was taken to a hospital against his will on Saturday during a hunger strike. Dozens of plainclothes police officers carried the 59-year-old from his mattress camp in the capital, according to media reports. The police said they had acted on medical advice, as Wangchuk had been weakened and showed signs of dehydration. From the clinic, Wangchuk tied an end to his protest to conditions: the government must take responsibility for the recent failures in the education system.

Solidarity and hunger strike

Wangchuk's wife Gitanjali Angmo stated on the platform X that nothing should be administered to him in the hospital, orally or by infusion, without her consent. Wangchuk describes himself as an engineer who has evolved into an education reformer and is also known beyond his home region as an environmental activist. A CJP spokesperson, meanwhile, signaled readiness for talks with the government, according to the news agency ANI. "A CJP spokesperson signaled readiness for talks with the government, according to the news agency ANI," it was reported.

The 19-year-old student K.M. Gulshan said: "The government had reached out for talks in the morning. Our demands are clear. The youth have gathered in huge numbers." He added: "We want the government to hear us, not silence us." Education Minister Pradhan did not reject the dialogue, but called the CJP and its supporters "the B-team of troublemakers" who had "no confidence in the country's progress." The protesters insist on the minister's moral responsibility for the leak and his resignation.