India’s Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) movement said on Tuesday it would continue nationwide protests until Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan is removed from office, a day after clashes between demonstrators and security forces left at least 178 people injured in New Delhi.
Why are protesters demanding Pradhan’s resignation?
Thousands of protesters gathered at Jantar Mantar in central New Delhi on Monday, demanding Pradhan’s resignation and broader reforms to India’s examination system following a series of exam-related scandals.
“We won’t stop. Pradhan has to be sacked,” CJP leader Ashutosh Ranka said in a social media post.
How did the clashes with police unfold?
Police used tear gas and baton charges to stop protesters from marching toward Parliament in what was described as one of the largest street demonstrations in the capital in about five years.
According to Delhi Police, 178 people were injured, including 118 police personnel. Authorities said around 60 protesters were also hurt during the confrontation.
What is the police response?
Delhi Police accused sections of the crowd of “unruly, aggressive and violent behaviour” and described the gathering as a “violent mob.”
The statement was issued late Monday after the clashes.
How have protest organisers reacted?
Protest organisers rejected the police account and accused authorities of using excessive force.
“It’s a shameful day in the history of Indian democracy that people, honest students, who had come for a genuine issue were brutally beaten by the Delhi police,” Ranka told AFP.
Has the government responded to the protesters’ demands?
Ranka said he met senior minister JP Nadda on Monday, but added that the government had not yet responded to the movement’s demands.
Hundreds of protesters remained camped at the Jantar Mantar site on Tuesday, with many calling for wider changes to the education system.
What triggered the current wave of protests?
The demonstrations follow a series of examination controversies that have raised concerns about the integrity of India’s testing system.
More than 2.2 million medical aspirants were required to retake an entrance examination last month after the original test was cancelled because of a question paper leak.
The controversy came alongside another dispute involving the online marking system used for examinations taken by nearly two million high school students.
Why is the issue politically significant?
The CJP movement, launched in May, has gained millions of followers on social media and emerged as a significant challenge for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government.
The protests have also highlighted wider frustration among young Indians over education, recruitment processes and employment opportunities despite the country’s rapid economic growth.