INDIAN POLICE BATON-CHARGE PARLIAMENT MARCH PROTESTERS

Armoured riot police charged demonstrators in New Delhi on Monday as they attempted a banned march to parliament to protest irregularities in major university examinations. Officers in blue riot gear baton-charged the protesters near the Jantar Mantar protest site, with thousands of people gathering from early in the day despite monsoon drizzle and police barricades. The protest was organised by the Cockroach Janta Party, a satirical movement that has grown to millions of social media followers since its emergence in May. Saurav Das, a spokesperson for the movement, said two members were en route to meet a senior minister in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's cabinet following government outreach for talks that morning.

The protesters are demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over examination irregularities including question paper leaks and technical glitches. The Cockroach Janta Party emerged after the Supreme Court chief justice compared unemployed young people to "cockroaches" during an unrelated hearing. The movement has tapped into widespread anger over the education system and unemployment. Prominent activist Sonam Wangchuk, who had supported the movement, was hospitalised on Saturday after ending a 20-day hunger strike.

The protest represents one of the biggest public displays of dissent against Prime Minister Modi's government in recent years, according to reporting of the event. The movement is described as one of the largest challenges to the Prime Minister since he won his third term in 2024. Das said on social media that the government should "stand down" its police presence, stating "We are a democracy in case you have forgotten." Student K.M. Gulshan told observers: "We want the government to hear us, not silence us."