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India's 'cockroach movement' halts marches after police violence

From Al Jazeera · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • Leaders of India's 'cockroach movement' will continue protesting but will avoid further marches in New Delhi due to police violence.
  • The movement demands the resignation of the Education Minister over flaws in the education system, particularly a leaked exam that led to student suicides.
  • Opposition leaders and Amnesty International condemned the police actions, with the Delhi High Court intervening in the case of a hunger-striking activist.

Leaders of India's "cockroach movement" announced they will continue their campaign against the government but will halt marches through New Delhi. This decision follows a violent police response during a recent rally where over 10,000 people attempted to march to parliament.

We will not march again because the police will hurt the youth again.

— Abhijeet DipkeThe founder of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) explained the decision to halt marches through New Delhi.

"We will not march again because the police will hurt the youth again," stated Abhijeet Dipke, founder of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), at a news conference Tuesday. He reported that 150 protesters sustained injuries from police using tear gas, canes, and batons. The movement is demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, holding him accountable for systemic flaws in the education sector.

The protest movement gained momentum after leaked exam papers forced 2.2 million aspiring doctors to retake their tests. Reports indicate at least 12 students died by suicide following the leak. The CJP is calling for compensation of 10 million rupees ($104,000) for each affected family. "We won’t stop. Pradhan has to be sacked," added Ashutosh Ranka of the CJP.

We won’t stop. Pradhan has to be sacked.

— Ashutosh RankaA CJP member emphasized the movement's continued demand for the Education Minister's resignation.

Opposition leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, along with members of the Indian National Congress, staged a protest outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi's residence, demanding answers regarding the "brutalities against young students." Amnesty International also issued a statement condemning the police action as a suppression of peaceful dissent. "They beat us black and blue, and they damaged our protest site," said protester Sahil Singh, demanding Pradhan's resignation for accountability.

We have marched to PM Modi’s house to demand answers from him for the brutalities against young students yesterday.

— Rahul GandhiRahul Gandhi posted on X about the opposition's protest at the Prime Minister's residence.

The Delhi High Court intervened in the case of activist Sonam Wangchuk, who was on a three-week hunger strike in solidarity with the CJP. Police had taken Wangchuk to a hospital against his will. The court ruled he could be moved to a private healthcare facility after his wife petitioned, alleging illegal detention. Approximately 200 protesters gathered at the CJP site in New Delhi on Tuesday, chanting slogans.

They beat us black and blue, and they damaged our protest site.

— Sahil SinghA protester described the police actions during the march and reiterated the demand for accountability.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Al Jazeera in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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