India’s cockroach movement supporters gather to march despite police ban

Hundreds of supporters of India's youth-led “cockroach” movement gathered in New Delhi on Monday to march on parliament, demanding the education minister's resignation. The protest, seen as the biggest challenge to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government in his third term, gained momentum after police forcibly moved activist Sonam Wangchuk to a hospital on Saturday.

Thousands of supporters arrived at the protest site in the heart of New Delhi overnight. Police and paramilitary forces were deployed at the heavily barricaded site, anticipating a potential standoff. Protesters chanted slogans demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Prime Minister Modi.

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All these leaders in power are illiterate and I am here to protest because we do not want question papers to leak.

The movement, initially fueled by online support with millions of followers, was sparked by leaked medical school entrance exam papers affecting over 2 million students. Protesters voiced frustration over corruption and leaks in competitive examinations, demanding an end to such practices. Student Adi Nathan, 21, stated, “All these leaders in power are illiterate and I am here to protest because we do not want question papers to leak.”

Activist Sonam Wangchuk, on hunger strike since June 28, stated in a note from the hospital that he would end his fast if the government takes accountability for educational failures or if protesters are allowed to reach parliament with assurances that their issues will be addressed. He also offered to end his fast if lawmakers met him in the hospital with similar assurances, as his health prevents him from marching.

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We want this corruption to end. We want all the frauds in paper leaks, in competitive examinations to end and this is the reason I have come here.