Police use tear gas as Cockroach movement marches in New Delhi
Thousands of Cockroach Janta Party supporters sought to march toward Parliament over exam leaks and the education minister’s resignation.
By Lucas Ferreira · Science & Environment Writer
3 min read
Indian police fired tear gas and used batons on Monday as supporters of the youth-led Cockroach movement tried to march toward Parliament in New Delhi, news agencies reported. The confrontation underscored rising anger over examination leaks and the movement’s demand that Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan step down.
The protesters had gathered at Jantar Mantar, a designated protest area about 2km from Parliament, according to news agencies. The crowd included students, working professionals and families with young children, AFP reported in photo captions from the scene.
Police moved in after demonstrators tried to get past security barricades around the protest site, according to Reuters and AFP. Images distributed by Reuters showed police detaining an injured protester, while AFP photographs showed officers baton-charging demonstrators as they attempted to advance.
Movement grew from a courtroom insult
The Cockroach Janta Party, or CJP, began in May after India’s chief justice compared some unemployed young people to “cockroaches” during an unrelated hearing, news agencies reported. Supporters adopted the term and turned it into a satirical youth movement that has drawn millions of followers on social media, according to those reports.
The group’s support has expanded amid repeated leaks of competitive entrance examinations for medical colleges and government jobs, news agencies reported. Those leaks have fueled public anger among students and job seekers who depend on the tests for access to education and state employment.
CJP activists at Monday’s protest demanded Pradhan’s resignation over alleged NEET examination irregularities, according to AFP. Protesters also called for changes to the examination system and compensation for families of students who died by suicide after paper leaks, news agencies reported.
Hunger strike helped draw attention
The movement has maintained a protest camp at Jantar Mantar for the past month, according to news agencies. Members of several student groups joined a hunger strike led by activist Sonam Wangchuk, whose case brought wider attention to the campaign after police forcibly moved him to a hospital on Saturday, the agencies reported.
Supporters identifying themselves as “cockroaches” have also gathered at universities and rallies in other Indian cities, according to news agencies. Monday’s march was one of the most visible confrontations between the movement and police since the camp began in central New Delhi.
News agencies also reported that the government appeared to begin its first public outreach to the movement’s leaders as the protests grew. No details of that outreach were reported in the available accounts.
Photographs from AP, Reuters and AFP showed police using force to disperse CJP supporters and protesters pressing against barricades near the protest site. The images also showed injured demonstrators during the march and a large crowd assembled near Jantar Mantar.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.