The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has turned a derogatory comment by India's chief justice into a mass movement demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. On Monday, thousands of students, parents, teachers and professionals marched from Jantar Mantar in central Delhi to Parliament’s gates in defiance of a police ban.
Police in riot gear set up barricades at every exit and used canes to charge demonstrators. The clash turned violent, with tear gas fired into the crowd and at least ten people wounded in the baton‑charges. Volunteers on the ground treated those bleeding from head wounds and broken limbs, and helpers ferrying the injured to nearby hospitals framed the scene of chaos.
Some protesters tried to break through the barricades and were met with heavy police deployment, while others remained seated in Jantar Mantar, refusing to leave. The Police’s order to retreat was ignored by many, who sat on the road waving Indian flags and chanting slogans until the evening.
Health Minister JP Nadda met with CJP representatives outside his residence after the protest, promising to bring the matter to the corridors of power. However, the brief conversation offered little tangible relief, and the Health Minister’s subsequent call on X urged the crowd to end the demonstration.
Despite the rain, the sit‑in and march continued, underscoring the growing frustration over job prospects, education system accountability and perceived corruption in the nation’s political landscape. The movement, which began as an online campaign in June, has now spread to cities across India, attracting opposition politicians and local activists alike. "It remains unclear whether the CJP will call off its protest or try to continue the sit‑in," staff writers note, as police dismantled the protest site by late evening.
