Prime Minister Narendra Modi pledged "stringent punishment" and fast-track courts for those involved in exam paper leaks that sparked mass student protests led by the Cockroach Janta Party. Clashes with police in New Delhi left at least 178 people injured and prompted calls for the education minister's resignation. The protests have broadened to include grievances about unemployment and governance, spread to other Indian cities, and drawn opposition backing and international solidarity.
Modi Vows Tough Action After Exam Leaks as Mass Student Protests Escalate
Thousands of protesters led by the social media-driven Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) movement rallied in New Delhi (Sajjad HUSSAIN)
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday vowed "stringent punishment" and the creation of fast-track courts for anyone involved in recent exam paper leaks that have sparked mass student protests across the country. The statement was his first direct response to demonstrations challenging his government.
Clashes in New Delhi
Thousands of protesters, led by the social-media-driven Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), rallied in New Delhi on Wednesday, prompting renewed clashes with police. Authorities reported that at least 178 people, including security personnel, were injured during confrontations that followed a larger march attempt earlier in the week on the opening day of Parliament's monsoon session.
"Nothing is more important than the welfare and future of our youth," Modi wrote on social media. "Those who try to harm the future of our youth will not be spared."
Origins and Demands
The protests—mostly youth-led—began after a series of high-profile exam irregularities, including a leaked medical entrance paper that forced more than two million candidates to retake the test and a disputed online-marking process affecting nearly two million high-school students. Demonstrators are demanding accountability and the resignation of the education minister.
A Broader Movement
The CJP, which began in May as a satirical reaction after reports that Chief Justice Surya Kant likened young people to "cockroaches" and "parasites," has expanded its agenda to include unemployment, limited opportunities for young people, and criticism of what it calls an increasingly authoritarian governing style. Opposition parties have amplified the movement, disrupting parliamentary proceedings and demanding an apology for police actions.
Wider Impact and Solidarity
Smaller demonstrations have appeared in other major cities, including Mumbai, Bengaluru and Patna. Students in neighbouring Bangladesh organized solidarity rallies, reflecting regional attention on youth-led political movements after earlier protests in Bangladesh helped bring down the government in 2024.
Modi's pledge to establish fast-track courts aims to restore confidence in the examination system, but protesters and opposition leaders say systemic reforms and transparent accountability are needed to rebuild trust.
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