Indian police fired tear gas and used batons to disperse protesters in New Delhi as thousands marched toward Parliament demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged irregularities in major national examinations.
Most of the demonstrators were students protesting exam paper leaks, technical glitches and other alleged failures in the country’s testing system. Protesters scattered as police moved in near Jantar Mantar amid heavy security.
Despite steady monsoon rain and police barricades, thousands turned out in what has become one of the largest demonstrations in the Indian capital in five years.
“Our country deserves a government that is bothered about what the young people have to say and is willing to correct its mistakes,” said Sumit Kumar, 18.
“The future belongs to us and not these politicians.”
The protest follows the forced hospitalization of activist Sonam Wangchuk, ending his 20-day hunger strike in support of young people and the satirical Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) movement.
Since its launch in May, the CJP has attracted millions of followers on social media by tapping into growing public frustration over India’s education system and rising unemployment.
“Is this a war zone? Why is the police resorting to tear gas assault on peaceful protesters?” CJP said in a post on X.
“First your govt ignored this protest for a month and now when we are peacefully marching your govt is attacking us. Why?”
The movement is increasingly viewed as one of the most significant political challenges facing Prime Minister Narendra Modi since he secured a third term in 2024.
Despite rapid economic growth, millions of people in the world’s most populous nation still struggle to find stable and well-paying jobs, fuelling discontent.
Some 2.2 million aspiring medical students sat for a re-examination under tight security last month after the previous test was scrapped following a question paper leak that triggered widespread outrage.
That came on top of another scandal related to the online marking system of tests taken by nearly two million high school students.
The CJP said two of its leaders met a senior minister Monday and submitted a letter spelling out their demands after the government reached out to them in the morning.
The Internet was cut in parts of central New Delhi on Monday, with police saying they had not given their permission for the protest.
“Any person violating these prohibitory orders shall be liable for prosecution,” Delhi Police said in a statement.
Shubhi Rao, 16, said she had joined the protest to support Wangchuk and demand accountability from the government.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi has shown himself as someone who isn’t bothered about the youth of this country”.
Modi, in a public address before the start of the monsoon session of parliament, did not mention the protesters.
But Mallikarjun Kharge, a senior leader of the opposition Congress party, brought up the issue in the upper house.
“Thousands of students have gathered at Jantar Mantar. The government is trying to use force, suppress voices, and drive them away,” he said.
Slogans were also shouted inside the lower house by the opposition benches, demanding the resignation of the education minister and justice for students.