Police crackdown fuels Cockroach Janta Party protest in Delhi

Sun Sep 06 2026 03:22:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Tens of thousands rally at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, facing tear gas and batons after an earlier police ban.

A massive protest by supporters of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) erupted in central Delhi after a police crackdown a day earlier. The crowd, numbering in the tens of thousands, attempted to march toward Parliament despite a ban, resulting in clashes that left 60 protesters wounded and 118 police injured. Opposition leaders denounced the violence and called for accountability, while the CJP demanded the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over exam scandals. The movement, sparked by a satirical use of the word “cockroach,” has gained national attention after the inclusion of activist Sonam Wangchuk in an indefinite hunger strike. Despite attempts by authorities to quell the demonstration, CJP protesters reclaimed the site, vowing to continue their campaign for education reform.

Tens of thousands gathered at Delhi’s historic Jantar Mantar observatory on Monday, eleven hours after a police crackdown on the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has spurred fresh violence.

The protest was aimed at the Parliament and was met with batons and tear gas, leaving at least 60 demonstrators wounded. Police officers themselves were injured – 118 personnel reported injuries – and 70 protestors were detained.

Opposition voice burns. Rahul Gandhi condemned the brutality and labelled Prime Minister Narendra Modi “the most anti‑youth prime minister India has ever had.” He marched to Modi’s residence on Tuesday demanding answers for the Monday violence.

The CJP is a satirical youth movement founded over a slur by India’s chief justice calling unemployed activists “cockroaches.” The group has drawn support from farmer leaders, celebrities and a large coalition of opposition parties.

Health Minister JP Nadda met with CJP leaders later in the day. He promised to look into the protesters’ concerns but did not issue a hard commitment. CJP spokesperson Saurav Das said the meeting yielded only a vague promise from government officials.

Despite a brief pause, the protest escalated. In videos shared after internet service was restored, armed police insulated areas, pursued demonstrators with sticks, and cleared barricades. Many injured protesters were seen being treated at nearby field hospitals.

Following the clash, the CJP posted on social media that the protest would continue, demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan in the wake of the NEET exam paper leak scandal that led to the cancellation of the May 2026 exam for 2.28 million students.

Nearly 20 students have since died by suicide following the scandal, adding a tragic dimension to the ongoing unrest. The CJP remains defiant, ready to stay on the protest site and press their demands for a comprehensive overhaul of India’s education system.