Protests demanding the resignation of India’s education minister intensified on Friday as demonstrators called for nationwide demonstrations in response to a scandal involving leaked medical school entrance exam papers. The breach, uncovered in May, affected approximately two million students and prompted the cancellation of the test amid growing concerns over student distress and reported suicides linked to the stress caused by the controversy.

The movement, led by the group known as Cockroach Janta Party, has emerged as the most significant challenge to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration since he took office in 2014. Authorities in Delhi have responded by shutting metro stations and restricting mobile internet access in an effort to manage the unrest.

Despite government appeals for dialogue, the young activists rejected an invitation to negotiate, instead organizing peaceful protests across the country. The demonstrations came in solidarity with students who alleged police brutality during a large march on the parliament on Monday that drew tens of thousands of participants.

Yesterday afternoon, thousands gathered once again at the Jantar Mantar protest site in New Delhi, carrying anti-government placards and chanting slogans amid a strong security presence. The protests have also spread to several other major cities, including Ranchi, Pune, Thiruvananthapuram, and Kolkata, local reports indicated.

The government has characterized the protests as peaceful but expressed concern over disruptions caused by the shutdown of transportation and communication services. The education ministry has pledged to investigate the exam paper leak, but protesters maintain that the education minister should resign for the failure to prevent the scandal and its consequences.

As the situation unfolds, officials continue to urge calm and renew calls for dialogue, while protesters prepare for further demonstrations aimed at holding the government accountable for the incident and its aftermath.