Hundreds of youth‑driven protesters have packed Jantar Mantar in Delhi, holding a sit‑in that persists despite heavy rainfall, demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and sweeping education reform.
The CJP, coined from a chief justice’s mockery of “cockroaches” when describing unemployed young people, now draws tens of thousands onto the streets, turning the long‑standing observatory into a hub of dissent.
On Monday police counter‑fire threw batons and tear gas, injuring at least 60 people, and dismantled the protest stage. The force, deemed excessive by protestors, was filmed in videos shared by opposition leaders, who later faced brief detention before being released.
In response, Congress leaders including Rahul Gandhi staged a sit‑down outside PM Narendra Modi’s residence, demanding an apology for the police crackdown and calling for an end to the grievances. Gandhi was briefly dragged by police, posted on a bus and later freed.
Prime Minister Modi and Education Minister Pradhan have declared that reforms are underway, rejecting allegations that the government has been indifferent to student demands. Critics argue the protests underscore a systemic lack of democratic space for public debate.
The movement’s influence spread to major cities—Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Ahmedabad—while activist Sonam Wangchuk joined the sit‑in and began a hunger strike in solidarity, further drawing global attention to the cause.
