'Cockroach Party' Challenges India's Prime Minister; Protests Ignite Over Exam Scandals

Thousands of protesters in Delhi demanded the resignation of the education minister and reforms to the examination system, with some calling for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to step down. The Associated Press reported that police used force against demonstrators.

Reuters described the protest as the largest public challenge to Prime Minister Modi to date. Despite police not authorizing the demonstration, approximately 10,000 people participated. Protesters voiced opposition to examination fraud in universities and called for significant changes to the system. Chants also urged Prime Minister Modi to resign.

Reports indicate that police used batons to disperse the crowd. The gathering was prompted by a call from the newly formed internet movement "Cockroach Party Janta" (CJP). Police denied using force against the protesters.

The CJP movement emerged in May after the Supreme Court chief justice compared a group of unemployed young people to "cockroaches." The movement's popularity surged following the revelation of leaked exam papers, which led to the annulment of a medical entrance exam taken by about two million candidates. According to AFP, citing local media, the exam cancellation resulted in the suicides of several candidates. In late June, some CJP representatives began a hunger strike, supporting students' demands for changes in the education system.

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Nothing will stop the cockroaches today!