New Delhi protests enter third day amid calls for education minister’s dismissal
Student demonstrators in the Indian capital have maintained their sit-in for three consecutive days, demanding the removal of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan following a series of examination paper leaks and a violent police intervention.
Student protests in New Delhi have persisted for a third consecutive day, with demonstrators intensifying their demands for the dismissal of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The youth-led ‘cockroach movement’, which has maintained a camp in the capital for over a month, remains defiant despite a heavy-handed police crackdown on Monday that left more than 100 people severely wounded.
The demonstrations, driven by Gen Z activists, were triggered by a series of examination paper leaks that have sparked widespread outrage. Protesters have labelled the education minister as incompetent, arguing that his leadership has failed to address systemic vulnerabilities within the examination system. The movement has coalesced around the call for Pradhan’s resignation, placing significant pressure on Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene.
Tensions escalated on Monday when police deployed batons and tear gas against the demonstrators. The crackdown resulted in severe injuries to more than 100 individuals, marking a sharp escalation in the confrontation between security forces and the student camp. Despite the violence and the mounting number of casualties, the protesters have vowed to continue their sit-in, refusing to disperse until their political demands are met.
The government has maintained its position amid the unrest, stating that it remains committed to educational reform. However, the administration has not yet acceded to the demands to sack the education minister. This stance echoes historical precedents where the Modi government has retained ministers amid significant controversies, such as the 2015 lynching of Mohammad Akhlaq and the 2016 suicide of student Rohith Vemula, defying patterns of political accountability often seen in other administrations.
As the protests enter their third day, the standoff continues to define the political landscape in New Delhi. The ‘cockroach movement’ has established itself as a persistent force, challenging the government’s narrative on reform while highlighting the deep-seated frustrations of young voters regarding institutional integrity and accountability.
