Police Disperse Thousands Protesting in Delhi

Indian police deployed tear gas and baton charges on Monday to disperse more than 10,000 protesters marching toward parliament in New Delhi. The demonstration, led by the youth-driven Cockroach Janta Party, demands the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and systemic reforms following widespread allegations of corruption in national examination processes.

The unrest follows the recent annulment of a major medical entrance exam taken by 2.2 million students, which was voided after reports of question paper leaks. Tensions escalated further after the forcible hospitalization of activist Sonam Wangchuk, who had been on a three-week hunger strike. While the government attempted to initiate dialogue with movement representatives, the detention of founder Abhijeet Dipke and the heavy police presence at the Jantar Mantar protest site indicate a hardening of the state's stance.

The movement, which originated as an online satirical campaign against government mismanagement, has transitioned into a significant street-level political force. As the monsoon session of parliament begins, the government faces mounting pressure to address the grievances of the youth demographic, whose mobilization has been fueled by perceived institutional failures and the high-stakes nature of India's competitive education system.