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The youth-led "cockroach" movement in India, credited with forcing the education minister's resignation over exam irregularities, is now demanding the release of all demonstrators detained during weeks of nationwide rallies. The online group, the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), which organized protests against exam paper leaks and other issues, reported students being held in detention, especially in Assam, West Bengal, and Bihar.

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Any failure to release those detained or withdraw criminal cases would amount to a breach of public trust.

"Any failure to release those detained or withdraw criminal cases would amount to a breach of public trust," the CJP stated, warning of "further necessary steps" if their demands are unmet. This statement follows the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan due to widespread anger over repeated failures in competitive exams, which affect millions of young Indians.

The CJP accused the government of reneging on assurances that protesters would not face punitive action. The movement, launched in May by 30-year-old Abhijeet Dipke, has gained millions of social media followers. Last week, tens of thousands of protesters, primarily students, rallied in New Delhi and other cities, calling for Pradhan's resignation and significant reforms to the examination system.

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The right to peaceful, lawful protest is absolutely guaranteed under the Indian constitution. If there is excess committed, it should be independently examined... discipline is integral to democratic process.

Demonstrations in the capital turned violent on July 20 when protesters attempted to march towards parliament from the Jantar Mantar site. Police used tear gas and batons to disperse the crowds, resulting in clashes and numerous detentions. In Bihar, a police official was suspended for allegedly using an assault rifle against student protesters, an incident that injured three people. The Chief Justice of India has called for an independent investigation into allegations of police brutality, emphasizing the constitutional guarantee of the "right to peaceful, lawful protest."

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It is one of the gravest assaults on democracy in our history.