Rapid Action Force personnel fire tear gas shells to disperse supporters of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) during a protest demanding the resignation of India's Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan this week.
Atul Dev, Rajesh Roy and Ruchi Bhatia
Police in New Delhi used tear gas and batons to disperse thousands of young people attempting to march to India’s parliament on Monday, drawing attention to a growing education crisis that’s fueled anger at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government.
The protest, which was led by the Cockroach Janta Party, was the largest in recent years in India’s capital and timed for the opening of the parliament. The group was started as a satirical online campaign that has since evolved into a protest movement by students. Its main demand is the resignation of the education minister after recent exam paper leaks, but many demonstrators in central Delhi on Monday directed their anger at Modi, reflecting broader frustration with his government.
Local TV channels broadcast footage appearing to show police using batons to disperse some protesters. Social media posts also showed police deploying tear gas in some locations. In a post on X, Delhi Police said there was no use of violence.
