India’s ‘Cockroach’ youth movement ends protest after education minister quits

New Delhi fell silent at midnight as the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) ended its protest following Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation. Thousands of students and youth had occupied Jantar Mantar, challenging Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government with demands for education reforms.

Pradhan's resignation is considered a significant setback for the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and has impacted Modi's image, according to analysts. The streets around the protest site were scrubbed clean by authorities after the demonstrators departed, but CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke vowed, "This is not the end. We will meet again soon."

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This is not the end. We will meet again soon.

The protesters' central demands included Pradhan's resignation and compensation for families of students who died by suicide following paper leaks and exam cancellations affecting millions. The government has agreed to provide "whatever maximum possible" compensation under the rules, though protesters sought 10 million rupees ($105,000) per family for about 20 such cases.

Following a police crackdown on July 20 that injured over 100 demonstrators, the CJP gained widespread support and added demands for no criminal cases against protesters and an apology from the police and paramilitary forces. The government assured that cases would be withdrawn in BJP-governed states, but reports indicate arrests and criminal cases have been filed against at least 11 people, including 10 Muslims, in West Bengal.

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whatever maximum possible