Demonstrations in India’s capital have intensified as the youth-led Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) maintains a continuous protest at Jantar Mantar, seeking education sector reforms and the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The movement has drawn widespread attention and support following a police operation earlier this week that resulted in injuries to both protesters and law enforcement officers.
On Monday, as the monsoon parliamentary session began, tens of thousands of demonstrators marched toward parliament after a CJP mobilization call. Police responded by deploying batons and tear gas to disperse crowds, with at least 60 people injured in the confrontation. Officers dismantled protest infrastructure including stages and temporary shelters, though participants have remained at the site in an ongoing sit-in despite challenging weather conditions.
The incident prompted opposition politicians to amplify their response. Congress party leaders, including former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and senior figure Sharad Pawar, visited the protest site to express solidarity. Subsequently, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and MP Rahul Gandhi conducted a demonstration outside Prime Minister Modi’s residence, calling for the resignations of Pradhan, Home Minister Amit Shah, and the prime minister himself. Gandhi stated that the government should apologize to students and noted that Congress pursued this public action after being unable to raise the matter in parliament.
Government officials contested the opposition’s characterization of events. Federal Minister Jitendra Singh alleged that Gandhi shifted demands and refused to conclude the protest despite assurances that parliamentary discussion would occur. Education Minister Pradhan characterized the Congress response as exploitative, arguing that the opposition prioritized political advantage over substantive debate and that his ministry remained dedicated to student welfare and educational improvements.
The CJP movement, originally satirical in nature, emerged from remarks made by India’s chief justice describing certain young people as “cockroaches.” The movement has grown significantly, with activist Sonam Wangchuk joining the effort and subsequently undertaking an indefinite hunger strike before being removed by police and hospitalized. Support has expanded beyond Delhi to include demonstrations in Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and Ahmedabad, establishing the CJP as a notable expression of public dissent against the current administration.
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