India's youth-led Cockroach movement vows to keep protest after police dispersal

Supporters of the youth-led Cockroach movement announced on Tuesday that they will remain at their Jantar Mantar sit-in in New Delhi, despite a police operation that used tear gas and batons to disperse protesters attempting to march toward Parliament. Hundreds of demonstrators, including students, professionals and families, have camped at the designated protest site and say they will stay until Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigns over alleged failures in the examination system.

"We are going to continue our protest," said Abhijeet Dipke, founder of the Cockroach Janta Party, which was formed two months ago.

The movement, which began as a satirical protest, has expanded into a nationwide campaign focused on exam leaks, unemployment and government accountability, marking a rare public challenge to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's third-term administration. On the same day, opposition leader Rahul Gandhi and several Congress lawmakers staged a sit-in outside Modi's residence, with some fastening zip ties around their wrists to demand answers for recent incidents involving student protesters.

Delhi Police reported that nearly 180 people were injured in the clash, including 118 security personnel and 60 protesters. After a month of limited dialogue, a senior minister met with movement representatives on Monday, but the talks did not resolve the protesters' demands, which include Pradhan's resignation, examination reforms and compensation for families of students who have died by suicide after alleged exam irregularities.

"The police action showed how peaceful dissent is being suppressed in India," Amnesty International said in a statement, noting that the right to peaceful assembly is guaranteed by the Indian constitution.

The confrontation has drawn additional participants, with individuals such as 26-year-old professional Rabina Kashyap saying she joined the protest to stand with her countrymen.