Thousands of protesters have gathered in New Delhi, India, since late June 2026, demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over widespread examination paper leaks. The movement, led by the Cockroach Janta Party,
has resulted in clashes with police and the closure of 16 metro stations as of July 23, 2026.
Escalating Tensions at Jantar Mantar
The protest site at Jantar Mantar in central New Delhi has become the focal point of a month-long standoff. On Wednesday, July 22, 2026, the crowd swelled to more than 10,000 demonstrators, according to local media reports. The situation turned volatile by late evening as police deployed tear gas and used canes to disperse crowds that had spilled onto surrounding streets.
The Japantoday report notes that some demonstrators threw stones and plastic bottles at law enforcement, resulting in injuries to several officers. In response to the unrest, the Delhi Metro Rail Corp. announced the closure of 16 stations in the vicinity of central New Delhi on Thursday, July 23, marking the second major service suspension this week due to security concerns.
The Rise of the Cockroach Janta Party
What began as an online satirical campaign has evolved into a significant political challenge to the administration of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“It has been 25 days so far. Even if it takes 25 months, that is acceptable, but we will not move from here.”
Abhijeet Dipke, founder of the Cockroach Janta Party
The movement taps into deep-seated frustration regarding job shortages and systemic failures in the national examination process. Government data from 2025 indicated that while the national unemployment rate stood at 3.1 per cent, the figure for those aged 15 to 29 reached nearly 10 per cent, climbing to 13.6 per cent in urban centers.
For more on this story, see India: Amnesty International Condemns Police Crackdown on New Delhi Education Protests.
Political Fallout and Exam Irregularities
The central grievance involves the leak of question papers for a medical college entrance examination, which necessitated a re-test for 2.3 million students. The government’s handling of the crisis—which involved using military aircraft to transport exam materials and a temporary block on the Telegram platform—has failed to quell public anger.
Opposition parties, led by the Congress party, have aligned themselves with the protesters. Rahul Gandhi has been seen leading demonstrations outside the Prime Minister’s residence and the parliament building.
The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has responded with sharp criticism. Nitin Nabin, a BJP leader, characterized the protesters as an anti-India gang
in a recent speech, suggesting that party workers were prepared to confront the movement.
Unresolved Demands and Government Response
Despite the government initiating one round of talks with CJP leaders and offering to discuss exam system reforms in parliament, the core demand remains unchanged: the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
The situation remains fluid as opposition leaders prepare to coordinate their next steps in parliament. Meanwhile, social activist Sonam Wangchuk has joined the cause, initiating a hunger strike that he has vowed to continue for up to six weeks if the government does not address the students’ demands. With the monsoon session of parliament underway, the government faces a critical test in managing the dual pressure of legislative disruption and sustained public demonstrations.
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