Negotiations between the Indian government and representatives of the youth-led “Cockroach” movement ended without a breakthrough on Friday, as demonstrators held rallies across the country to demand a major overhaul of the national education system. Senior ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh engaged in two hours of discussions with leaders from the social media-driven Cockroach Janta Party (CJP). The meeting focused on the group’s core demands, most notably the resignation or removal of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan from the Union Cabinet.
Following the meeting in New Delhi, CJP spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka stated that the group made it clear that nothing less than the minister's resignation would be acceptable. Both parties confirmed that talks are scheduled to resume on Saturday. Minister Nadda, who had previously met with protesters in the capital on Monday, indicated that the government had acknowledged their grievances and would provide a response during the upcoming session.
The protests, which have centered at the Jantar Mantar site in New Delhi, have seen escalating tension throughout the week. Demonstrations turned violent after police utilized tear gas and batons against students attempting to march toward parliament. The movement has since expanded significantly beyond the capital, with large-scale protests erupting in cities such as Mumbai and Kolkata. In eastern Kolkata, thousands of students identified as “cockroaches” brought traffic to a standstill for hours, waving Indian flags and chanting slogans against police treatment of students in Delhi.
Public frustration is largely driven by a series of systemic irregularities, including the leak of a medical entrance exam paper that forced millions of students to retake the test, as well as failures in online marking systems for high schoolers. The movement has broadened to encompass broader concerns regarding youth unemployment and criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s governance style. This unrest represents one of the most significant challenges to the administration since the 2024 re-election.
Opposition parties have aligned themselves with the protesters, disrupting proceedings in the lower house of parliament on Friday and declaring they would refuse any debate until Pradhan resigns. Rahul Gandhi, after visiting an injured student in the hospital, accused police of using pellet guns and batons against demonstrators. While Prime Minister Modi has promised legal reforms and swift punishment for those responsible for exam leaks, some students remain skeptical. Sushmita, a 20-year-old student at the Jantar Mantar site, questioned why the government delayed its response and expressed doubt regarding the administration’s future support. Meanwhile, Modi stated on Thursday that his cabinet is finalizing draft legislation to expedite court proceedings against those involved in exam-related offenses, aiming to pass the bill through the House as soon as possible.
