Police attack Cockroach activists as thousands march on Indian parliament

What the report says

Al Jazeera, citing its staff, AP and Reuters, reported that Indian police used tear gas, canes and baton charges on Monday, July 20, 2026, as more than 10,000 supporters of the youth-led Cockroach movement attempted to march toward parliament in New Delhi. The protesters were demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and action over alleged corruption and mismanagement in the exam system.

The demonstration, centred around Jantar Mantar, coincided with the opening day of parliament’s monsoon session and was described by Al Jazeera as the movement’s biggest challenge so far to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government. The crowd included students, professionals and families, with some metro exits near the protest site reportedly sealed. Delhi police said the protest area was overcrowded and urged people to leave, while Al Jazeera reported videos circulating online appeared to show riot police pushing protesters back with canes.

According to the report, anger had grown after the forcible hospitalisation of 59-year-old activist Sonam Wangchuk, who had been on a three-week hunger strike in solidarity with the protesters. The government offered talks with two activists through Health Minister JP Nadda, while movement spokesperson Saurav Das said the group’s demands remained clear.

The protests follow public outrage over leaked exam questions that forced about 2.2 million medical entrance candidates to retake a test under heavy security. Al Jazeera reported that the Cockroach movement began online after protesters adopted an insult used by India’s chief justice as a badge of identity, then expanded into a street mobilisation backed by opposition figures and some celebrities.