India’s youth-driven “Cockroach” movement declared on Tuesday that while it will persist with its anti-government protests, it will no longer conduct marches. This decision came a day after violent confrontations with police during a rally near the parliament in central Delhi resulted in numerous injuries.
Abhijeet Dipke, founder of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), announced the suspension of further marches to avoid additional harm to young demonstrators. He also expressed regret to supporters, especially women, who were reportedly assaulted by male police officers during the clashes.
The Delhi Police reported that around 180 individuals were injured in Monday’s altercations, including 118 security personnel and 60 protesters. However, Dipke claimed that over 150 protesters were receiving medical treatment in hospitals. Police used batons and tear gas to disperse thousands of demonstrators who had gathered from Delhi and surrounding regions.
Authorities detained 70 protesters, who now face legal proceedings for allegedly engaging in violent and disorderly conduct while violating prohibitory orders. Despite a strong police presence and barricades, approximately 500 protesters assembled at the Jantar Mantar protest site in central Delhi on Tuesday.
The movement, which originated as an online satire, has evolved into a significant political challenge to Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his third term. Its momentum surged with the involvement of activist Sonam Wangchuk, who began a hunger strike on June 28 and was forcibly hospitalized by authorities on Saturday.
The protests center on a May leak of a national medical entrance exam paper that impacted over two million students and was linked to roughly a dozen student suicides. The CJP demands the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, the release of Wangchuk, and compensation of 10 million rupees ($104,000) for each family of a student who died by suicide.
In a significant development, Health Minister J.P. Nadda met with CJP representatives on Monday and requested time to consult with the government regarding their demands. Meanwhile, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju emphasized on Tuesday that the situation should not deteriorate as discussions continue in a positive direction.
