Arabic version: الشرطة تضرب مؤيدي حركة الصرصور بالهراوات في دلهي

According to ABC News, supporters of India’s youth-led Cockroach Janta Party movement were caned and tear gassed by police as they attempted to march towards parliament in New Delhi on Monday. Thousands had gathered to demand the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over leaked medical school entrance test papers.

Police said the march had not been authorised and that restrictions were needed to maintain law and order near parliament as its monsoon session began. Officers fired tear gas and used batons after protesters tried to breach security barricades around the protest site, while some demonstrators continued towards parliament in small groups.

The movement began after national medical school entrance examination papers were leaked in May, affecting more than 2 million students and forcing them to take the test again. The CJP has gained millions of social media supporters and expanded into a broader challenge to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government.

The protest intensified after activist Sonam Wangchuk, who joined a sit-in on June 28 and began an indefinite hunger strike, was moved to hospital on Saturday. In a handwritten note posted on X, he said he would end his fast if the government accepted accountability for the leaks and education-system failures, or if protesters were allowed to reach parliament and received assurances the issues would be raised.

Health Minister J.P. Nadda met CJP representatives and described the discussion as cordial. CJP spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka said Mr Nadda sought time to discuss demands including Mr Wangchuk’s release, Mr Pradhan’s resignation and compensation of 10 million rupees each for exam aspirants who died by suicide.