NEW DELHI—Thousands of demonstrators gathered at Jantar Mantar in central New Delhi on Monday before attempting to march toward Parliament, demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged examination paper leaks and broader concerns about accountability in India's education system, despite police refusing permission for the procession.
Police erected barricades around the designated protest site and deployed large numbers of security personnel in the high-security parliamentary district as the monsoon session of Parliament opened. Authorities said restrictions had been imposed to maintain public order and prevent disruption near Parliament.
As groups of protesters sought to move beyond the barricaded area, police used tear gas and batons to disperse sections of the crowd, according to Delhi Police and eyewitness accounts reported by multiple news organizations. Officials did not immediately release details of injuries or arrests.
The demonstration was organized by the youth-led Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), a movement that has grown rapidly in recent months amid public anger over repeated alleged leaks of high-stakes examination papers. Protest organizers said they were also seeking compensation for families affected by exam-related distress and broader reforms to improve transparency and integrity in the education system. Those demands have not been independently verified beyond organizers' public statements.
The protest gained additional momentum following the hospitalization of activist Sonam Wangchuk, who has been on a hunger strike in support of the movement's demands. Organizers said his fast was intended to pressure the government into addressing concerns over examination administration and accountability.
Government officials signaled a willingness to engage with protest representatives. Health Minister J.P. Nadda met movement representatives and said he would raise their concerns within the government, according to organizers and media reports. There was no immediate indication that the government intended to accept the protesters' principal demand for the education minister's resignation.
The protests have become one of the most prominent youth-led demonstrations during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's third term, drawing students, professionals and families from across the country. Authorities maintained heightened security across central Delhi throughout the day, while organizers said they would continue pressing their demands through peaceful means.
