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Police cane 'Cockroach' movement youth protesters marching to parliament in New Delhi

From Jerusalem Post · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

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  • Police in New Delhi caned protesters from the youth-led 'Cockroach' movement attempting to march on parliament.
  • The protest, seen as a major challenge to Prime Minister Modi, was denied permission by authorities.
  • Protesters accuse police of violence, including tear gas, while police deny using force and state the protest is being handled professionally.

Police in New Delhi used batons on protesters from the youth-led 'Cockroach' movement Monday as they attempted to march on parliament, despite authorities denying permission for the demonstration. The months-old movement, which has gained millions of social media followers, is considered the most significant public challenge to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government.

The protest site has already run out of space, and this can lead to an untoward situation.

— Sachin SharmaDeputy Commissioner of Police, Delhi, explaining the reasons for denying permission for the protest march.

The protest was galvanized after authorities moved hunger-striking activist Sonam Wangchuk to a hospital on Saturday. Thousands of supporters converged on the Jantar Mantar protest site in central New Delhi for the march, coinciding with the opening day of parliament's monsoon session. Delhi police held discussions with members of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) but reached no agreement, citing concerns about overcrowding and potential untoward situations.

Government is now bent on violence and firing tear gas shells on peaceful protestors!

— Cockroach Janta Party movementAccusing police of using excessive force against demonstrators, via a post on X/Twitter.

Television footage showed police caning some protesters in a heavily barricaded area. Reuters journalists heard blasts, which protesters claimed were tear gas shells fired to disperse the crowd. The CJP movement alleged on X (formerly Twitter) that the government was resorting to violence and tear gas against peaceful demonstrators. However, Delhi Police denied any use of force, asserting that the protest was being managed professionally.

The administration is trying to open talks with the government... They have come very late, but we have opened our hearts and said that we are willing to talk to them.

— Saurav DasChief CJP spokesperson, indicating a willingness to negotiate with authorities.

Protesters chanted slogans demanding the resignation of both Prime Minister Modi and Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, whose ministry has been embroiled in a controversy over leaked national medical school entrance exam papers. The CJP movement began after these leaks affected over 2 million students, forcing a re-test. "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 protester Adi Nathan.

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

— Adi NathanA 21-year-old protester explaining his motivation, linked to leaked exam papers.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Jerusalem Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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