Opposition parties in India staged a large-scale protest outside the Parliament building in New Delhi on July 22, demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan amid escalating youth-led demonstrations over alleged exam paper leaks and police brutality. The protest movement, known as the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), has gained significant traction since June, evolving from a satirical online campaign into one of the most substantial challenges to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government since he took office in 2014.

The protests initially erupted over the leak of medical school entrance exam papers, impacting around two million students and fueling outrage over perceived corruption in the education system. The CJP’s activism has since broadened to encompass wider grievances shared by India’s youth, including concerns over job shortages and a lack of government accountability. On July 20, tens of thousands of protesters gathered in central Delhi, clashing with police officers who used tear gas and baton charges to disperse the crowds. Authorities reported injuries on both sides, with 60 civilians and 118 police personnel affected, while activists and human rights groups, including Amnesty International, accused the police of excessive force.

The following day, opposition leaders led by Rahul Gandhi of the Congress party assembled outside Parliament, many dressed in black and carrying placards calling for Pradhan’s resignation. Inside the chamber, lawmakers demanded a formal debate on the alleged police crackdown and exam scams, leading to the suspension of parliamentary proceedings. Rahul Gandhi and his sister Priyanka Vadra were briefly detained by police after staging a sit-in outside Modi’s residence earlier in the week but were later released.

The protest site at Jantar Mantar remained active with over 1,000 demonstrators camped out despite high temperatures. Supporters from across India—and some from abroad—have sent food and supplies to sustain the crowd, which chants slogans and sings songs to maintain morale. The CJP’s spokesman, Ashutosh Ranka, said the movement aims to revive the culture of questioning and dissent in India, criticizing the government’s handling of the situation.

In response, Pradhan, a senior leader of Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has expressed a willingness to engage with the protesters, emphasizing the government’s commitment to education reforms and accountability while condemning what he described as the politicization of the protests. “The students of India deserve far better than being treated as props in a political campaign,” he said in comments posted on social media.

The protests have spread beyond Delhi, with demonstrations occurring in Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, and several other cities. Security measures have been heightened in the capital, with some metro stations closed to mitigate potential unrest. The movement has also drawn attention from figures such as activist Sonam Wangchuk, whose hunger strike brought additional visibility to the protests, though his detention by police sparked further controversy.

Analysts note that the youth-led protests have tapped into broader dissatisfaction among young Indians facing uncertain job prospects, potentially representing a growing political challenge for Modi’s administration as it approaches future elections. The opposition views the unrest as an opportunity to press the government on governance issues, while Modi’s camp insists on addressing the concerns within established legal and democratic frameworks.