Delhi Standoff: Thousands Rally Against Exam Leak Scandal as Police Hold the Line

Tens of thousands of students, parents, and professionals turned Delhi’s streets into a sea of flags and placards on Monday, defying a police ban to march toward Parliament. The demonstration, led by the youth movement calling itself the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), is demanding the resignation of India’s Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged NEET exam paper leaks.

The protest unfolded at Jantar Mantar, a historic 300-year-old observatory that has long served as Delhi’s designated protest site, before demonstrators pushed toward heavily barricaded roads leading to Parliament.

Delhi CJP: Key Facts

What’s Fueling the Anger

The movement traces its name to a remark by India’s chief justice, who compared unemployed young people to “cockroaches” during a court hearing — a comment later withdrawn, but not before organizers turned it into a rallying symbol. What began as outrage over exam irregularities has since widened into a broader protest over jobs, transparency, and accountability, drawing comparisons to some of the most visible public pushback against the current government in years.

Momentum built further over the weekend after activist Sonam Wangchuk was forcibly hospitalized on the 21st day of a hunger strike supporting the cause — a fast his wife says continues even now.

How Monday Unfolded

Police sealed every road leading to Parliament, deploying barricades and paramilitary personnel as protesters attempted to break through in smaller groups. Baton charges led to injuries on both sides, with volunteer medics treating head wounds and at least one suspected broken leg. Mobile internet was also suspended in parts of central Delhi.

By afternoon, CJP representatives met briefly with Health Minister JP Nadda, submitting a list of demands — though the meeting did little to ease tensions, with thousands remaining camped at Jantar Mantar into the evening.

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