Protesters clash with police behind barricades in New Delhi on Monday during a demonstration calling for the resignation of the education minister. ARUN SANKAR/AFP
NEW DELHI — Supporters of India's youth-led Cockroach movement clashed with police on Monday as thousands tried to march to Parliament to demand the education minister's resignation, while the government appeared to make its first outreach to the movement's leaders.
Police fired tear gas and charged at protesters with batons when demonstrators tried to breach the barricades surrounding the protest site in central New Delhi, marking one of the most serious confrontations in the movement's campaign against Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government. Despite the crackdown, many protesters continued marching toward Parliament in small groups.
Cockroach Janta Party spokesman Saurav Das accused the authorities of "brutally cracking down" on "peaceful protesters". The Delhi Police said the march had not been authorized and that restrictions were needed to maintain law and order around Parliament during the monsoon session, which began on Monday.
The crowd at Jantar Mantar, a designated site for protests just a few kilometers from Parliament, included students, professionals and families with young children. As the day progressed, the gathering spilled beyond the protest site, with demonstrators filling surrounding streets and roads.
