The youth‑led Cockroach Janta Party has drawn tens of thousands to Delhi's Jantar Mantar, marching for education reforms and the resignation of Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Despite heavy rainfall in the first week of July, supporters keep a round‑the‑clock sit‑in, refusing to disperse after police used batons and tear gas on Monday.
In a sharp response, key Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and former chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, staged a surprise march outside PM Narendra Modi's house, demanding the resignation of Pradhan and Home Minister Amit Shah. The protest ended with police dragging Gandhi onto a bus, an action he documented on social media.
Police claims that twenty‑six people were injured during the crackdown, while opposition MPs lodged formal objections and highlighted the need for a parliamentary debate on the alleged exam‑paper leaks.
Government officials, notably Minister Jitendra Singh, dismissed Gandhi’s allegations and accused Congress of using students as a political theatre. Minister Pradhan, in turn, criticized Congress for exploiting student grievances and re‑asserted the government’s commitment to answering reform demands.
The movement has gained global attention, especially after activist and educationist Sonam Wangchuk joined the protests on 28 June and commenced an indefinite hunger strike in support of the students. Since Monday’s violence, demonstrations have expanded beyond Delhi, holding rallies in Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Ahmedabad.
