India ‘cockroach’ group says will not march again because police will ‘hurt youth’

NEW DELHI: India’s youth-led “cockroach” movement announced on Tuesday that it would continue its anti-government demonstrations but cease marching, a day after clashes with police during a rally towards parliament in central Delhi left scores injured.

Founder of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), Abhijeet Dipke, called off further marches to prevent more young demonstrators from being hurt. He also apologised to supporters, particularly women who he said were beaten by male police officers.

Clashes and detentions

Delhi Police reported that nearly 180 people were injured during Monday’s clashes, including 118 security personnel and 60 protesters. In contrast, the CJP founder stated that over 150 protesters were undergoing treatment in hospital. Police deployed batons and tear gas to push back thousands of demonstrators who had assembled from Delhi and neighbouring areas.

According to a police statement, 70 protesters were detained and face legal action for allegedly displaying unruly and violent behaviour while violating prohibitory orders. Despite a heavy security presence and barricades, nearly 500 protesters gathered at the Jantar Mantar protest site in central Delhi on Tuesday.

Core demands and government talks

The movement began as an online satire before expanding into a significant challenge for Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his third term. The group’s momentum increased with the support of activist Sonam Wangchuk, who began a hunger strike on June 28 before authorities forcibly moved him to a hospital on Saturday.

The demonstrations focus on the May leak of a national entrance exam paper for medical school, which affected more than two million students and led to about a dozen student suicides. The CJP is demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, the release of Wangchuk, and compensation of 10 million rupees ($104,000) for the families of each student who died by suicide.

Following a meeting with CJP representatives on Monday, Health Minister J.P. Nadda requested time to discuss the demands within the government. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju noted on Tuesday that the atmosphere should not be vitiated while discussions progress in the right direction.