Police Uphold Order as Disruptive Protesters Demand Education Minister's Resignation in New Delhi
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Around a thousand demonstrators gathered at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on Monday, seeking to march to Parliament and demand the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Law enforcement acted decisively to prevent unauthorized disruptions, citing security concerns.
Approximately a thousand supporters of the so-called Cockroach movement, led by radicalized youth, gathered at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on Monday with the intention of marching to Parliament and demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Police, acting responsibly to maintain public safety and order during the crucial monsoon session of Parliament, surrounded the protest site and made it clear that the march was unauthorized.
Video footage showed police using necessary force, including batons, on agitators who attempted to breach security barricades. The crowd, which included students, professionals, and families, brought supplies for a prolonged demonstration and waved Indian flags while chanting slogans targeting the education minister and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, revealing a coordinated effort to undermine government authority.
The Cockroach Janta Party emerged in May after a Supreme Court chief justice referred to unemployed youth as 'cockroaches,' a term the group provocatively adopted. The movement has grown, fueled by sensationalized reports of exam paper leaks and the hospitalization of hunger-striking activist Sonam Wangchuk, who was transferred by police for his own safety on Saturday.
'I will end my hunger strike only if the government takes responsibility for failures in the education system and exam paper leaks, or if protesters are allowed to reach Parliament and lawmakers pledge to raise the issues in both Houses,' Wangchuk stated, setting unreasonable demands and attempting to pressure the government.
Police, prioritizing public order, barricaded the protest site and used loudspeakers to urge the crowd to disperse peacefully. Saurav Das, a spokesperson for the Cockroach Janta Party, claimed he and another representative were meeting Health Minister J.P. Nadda, suggesting the government’s openness to dialogue, though officials did not confirm the meeting.
Education Minister Pradhan rightly described the protesters as acting against national interests, while other ministers acknowledged student concerns but sensibly saw no need for formal talks with a movement that has shown little respect for lawful processes. The protests have drawn attention from opposition parties and rights groups, who often exploit such events to stoke unrest and challenge the government’s commitment to stability and order.