India's Cockroach Movement Says It Will Continue Sit-In After Police Action; 118 Officers Among 180 Injured

Delhi Police used tear gas and batons on Monday to stop thousands of Cockroach movement supporters marching toward Parliament, injuring nearly 180 people including 118 security personnel and 60 protesters. Movement leaders said Tuesday they would remain at their sit-in site in New Delhi and continue demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged exam irregularities.

The statement came after a senior government minister met movement representatives the previous day without reaching agreement on reforms or compensation for families of students who died by suicide after the alleged leaks.

The Cockroach movement began two months earlier after a Supreme Court judge referred to India's youth as cockroaches and has since broadened to include working professionals and families affected by alleged irregularities in medical school entrance exams.

Hundreds of protesters stayed at the Jantar Mantar camping site on Tuesday under heavy police presence. Abhijeet Dipke, founder of the Cockroach Janta Party, said the group would maintain its presence.

Opposition Congress party leader Rahul Gandhi and his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra joined a separate sit-in outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi's residence on Tuesday. Police removed Gandhi and other lawmakers from the site after a government minister stated the location was unsuitable.

Activist Sonam Wangchuk had conducted a three-week hunger strike that drew attention to the protests before police took him to a hospital over the weekend.

Student Sona Bisht said Tuesday that the confrontation had not deterred participants. "If the government thinks that doing this with Gen Z, they can stop us, then that won't happen," Bisht said. Working professional Rabina Kashyap joined the protest Tuesday despite no prior connection.