Students March Without Permits Toward Parliament Over Exam Leaks, Joblessness; Police Disperse Crowd

India's riot police baton-charged protesters in New Delhi on Monday as they attempted to march toward parliament from the Jantar Mantar area. Officers in blue riot gear advanced after the group began moving forward, forcing participants to take cover. Delhi Police said the demonstrators lacked authorization and warned that violators of prohibitory orders would face prosecution.

Authorities also cut internet service in parts of central New Delhi during the demonstration. The Cockroach Janta Party, launched in May, organized the protest to demand the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The group cited a question paper leak that forced 2.2 million aspiring medical students to retake an exam last month and glitches in the online marking system for nearly two million high school exams.

Student K.M. Gulshan, 19, said the group wanted the government to hear its concerns. Shubhi Rao, 16, joined to support activist Sonam Wangchuk, who was taken to hospital on Saturday after ending a hunger strike.

Rao told AFP that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has shown himself as someone who isn’t bothered about the youth of this country. The party posted on X that nothing would stop the cockroaches and shared images of supporters defying drizzle and police barricades.

The group has gained millions of followers on social media by tapping into anger over the education system and unemployment, even as India's economy grows rapidly.