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

Hundreds of supporters of India's youth-led "cockroach" movement converged in New Delhi on July 20, aiming to march on parliament to demand the education minister's resignation. Police denied permission for the protest, creating a tense standoff at the heavily barricaded Jantar Mantar site, a few kilometers from Parliament.

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Quit, quit. Dharmendra Pradhan, quit. Narendra Modi, quit.

The months-old movement has emerged as a significant public challenge to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's administration in its third term. It has garnered millions of supporters on social media and mobilized ground support, particularly after police forcibly moved hunger-striking activist Sonam Wangchuk to a hospital on July 18. Thousands of supporters arrived overnight at the protest site.

Protesters chanted slogans in Hindi, calling for the resignations of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Prime Minister Modi. The "Cockroach Janta Party" (CJP) movement gained momentum after national medical school entrance test papers were leaked in May, forcing over 2 million students to retake the exam.

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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.

"All these leaders in power are illiterate, and I am here to protest because we do not want question papers to leak," said 21-year-old student Adi Nathan. Mohammed Tabrez, 22, echoed the sentiment, stating, "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."

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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.

Activist Sonam Wangchuk, in a handwritten note from the hospital posted on X, said he would end his indefinite hunger strike if the government takes accountability for failures in the education system and paper leaks, or if protesters are allowed to reach Parliament and receive assurances that their issues will be addressed. The CJP, initially gaining traction online with 22 million Instagram followers, has broadened its appeal and secured support from some opposition parties.

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I will end my fast if the government takes accountability for recent failures in the education system and for paper leaks, or if CJP protesters are allowed to reach Parliament and have lawmakers assure them that the issues would be taken up in the chambers.