Youth Protests Demand Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan Resign

A youth-led movement spearheaded by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has occupied Jantar Mantar in New Delhi since June 20, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan following widespread NEET-UG paper leaks. The protests, which expanded to Mumbai, Indore, Udaipur, and Hyderabad, center on systemic failures in the education system and high youth unemployment. The movement's name stems from a satirical response to Chief Justice Surya Kant's description of unemployed youth as "cockroaches."

Violence escalated during a July 20 "Sansad Chalo" march toward Parliament, where Delhi Police and the Rapid Action Force used tear gas and lathi-charges, resulting in approximately 180 injuries. On July 23, clashes near Tolstoy Marg in Connaught Place led to injuries for five police officers, including ACPs Vivek Bhagat and Jai Prakash. The unrest forced the New Delhi Traders Association to order an early closure of businesses in Connaught Place, and the Union Home Ministry airlifted 20 companies of the Central Reserve Police Force from West Bengal to augment security.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi responded by announcing fast-track courts to ensure "stringent punishment" for those involved in paper leaks, but CJP leaders and opposition leader Rahul Gandhi dismissed this as insufficient. Meanwhile, activist Sonam Wangchuk has undergone a hunger strike exceeding 26 days. Now hospitalized at Medanta Hospital in Gurugram, Wangchuk offered to end his fast if the government guarantees that no legal action will be taken against student protesters.