India’s ‘cockroach’ protest movement halts marches after police violence - Al Jazeera

What the report says

Al Jazeera, with Reuters, reported that leaders of India’s “cockroach movement” have said they will keep campaigning against the government but will not hold another march through New Delhi, citing the risk of further police violence. The decision followed a Monday march toward parliament by more than 10,000 people that ended in clashes with police. Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke said at a Tuesday news conference that the group would avoid another march because supporters could be hurt again.

The movement is demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over failures it links to India’s education system. According to the report, the campaign grew after leaked exam papers forced 2.2 million aspiring doctors to retake tests and was reportedly connected to at least 12 student suicides. The CJP is also seeking compensation of 10 million rupees, about $104,000, for each affected family.

CJP leaders said 150 protesters were injured when police used tear gas and canes during Monday’s protest. Delhi police gave a different figure, saying nearly 180 people were hurt, including 60 protesters and 118 police and security personnel, and that 70 protesters were detained. Al Jazeera reported that videos showed police attacking protesters, while no footage had emerged showing violence by marchers.

The unrest has drawn wider political attention. Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and Indian National Congress members protested outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence, while Amnesty International criticized the police response as suppression of peaceful dissent. The report also said activist Sonam Wangchuk, on hunger strike in solidarity with the CJP, was taken by police and hospitalized, with the Delhi High Court later allowing him to move to a private facility.