NEW DELHI—Supporters of the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) resumed their sit-in at New Delhi's Jantar Mantar on Tuesday, hours after police cleared the protest site following clashes during a march toward Parliament, with demonstrators saying they would continue their campaign over alleged examination irregularities and education reforms.
Police maintained a heavy security presence around the designated protest area as protesters returned, raised slogans and began reorganizing tents and other temporary structures that had been dismantled after Monday's operation. Images from the site showed volunteers recovering belongings and rebuilding parts of the encampment following overnight rain.
The renewed sit-in followed a day of confrontation in which thousands of protesters attempted to march toward Parliament during the opening of the monsoon session. Delhi Police used tear gas and batons to stop the procession, while authorities later detained dozens of people and cleared the Jantar Mantar protest site. Police said protesters became violent, alleging they threw stones, damaged public property and attempted to breach security barricades.
CJP leaders rejected those allegations, accusing police of using excessive force against demonstrators and saying the movement remained committed to peaceful protest. The group said it would continue its sit-in until its principal demands, including the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and broader reforms to India's public examination system, are addressed.
The protests, which began over alleged examination paper leaks and concerns about accountability in the education system, have expanded into a wider youth-led movement drawing support from students and activists across several Indian cities. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday called for a "foolproof" public examination system, marking his first public comments on the issue, while highlighting government actions including re-examinations and arrests linked to alleged exam fraud.
Separately, a delegation of CJP representatives met Union Minister J.P. Nadda on Monday. According to the protesters, Nadda said their demands would be conveyed to the government leadership and urged them to end the sit-in. Protest leaders said they received no commitment on their core demands and would maintain the demonstration.
Meanwhile, the Delhi High Court continued monitoring the health of activist Sonam Wangchuk, who has been hospitalized after participating in a hunger strike associated with the movement, according to court proceedings and local media reports.
