India's 'cockroach movement' leaders say minister promises talks on demands

Demands include the release of Wangchuk, Pradhan's resignation and compensation of 10 million rupees for each student

India's youth-led Cockroach Janta Party movement said on Monday ​a federal minister had promised the government would weigh its demands as thousands of protesters marched on parliament despite police efforts to scatter them ‌with tear gas and cane charges.

Supporters of India’s youth-led Cockroach movement clashed with police Monday as thousands of them tried to march to Parliament, demanding the education minister’s resignation.

Meanwhile the government appeared to make its first outreach to the movement’s leaders. pic.twitter.com/J5OGlcs6bt

— The Associated Press (@AP) July 20, 2026

The months-old movement and the protest are seen as the biggest public challenge to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his third term, drawing millions of supporters on social media before broadening its appeal to opposition parties.

A police decision to forcibly move hunger-striking activist Sonam Wangchuk to a hospital on Saturday galvanised a movement demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over examination paper leaks.

Members say ​the leaking of the papers for a national entrance test to medical school in May — which forced some 2 million students to resit, and led to ​some taking their own lives — was a sign of deep-seated corruption in education.

Thousands of young supporters gathered through the night at the ⁠protest site of Jantar Mantar in New Delhi for the march on the opening day of parliament's monsoon session.

https://www.bbc.com/news/videos/c0qvdywj97ko

"Quit, quit," the protesters chanted. "Dharmendra Pradhan quit", "Narendra Modi quit", they said ​in Hindi.

Scores of police and paramilitary personnel turned out across the capital, stopping protesters as they chanted and waved the national flag.

Health Minister JP Nadda has asked for time to ​discuss the Cockroach Janta Party's demands within the government, Ashutosh Ranka, the movement's national spokesperson, said in a post on X on Monday.

Update:

Me and @SauravDassss are still at Nadda ji's residence. Nadda ji has requested some time to align with their leadership with regards to our following demands:
- Immediate release of @Wangchuk66
- Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation
- 1Cr compensation for all NEET aspirants…

— Ashutosh Ranka (@AshutoshRanka) July 20, 2026

The demands include the release of Wangchuk — who is staging his hunger strike in solidarity with the movement — Pradhan's resignation, and compensation of 10 million rupees ($104,000) for each student who died by suicide following the leak.

Around 12 people have taken their own lives, according to media reports.

Nadda said the leaders of the ​Cockroach Janta Party had submitted a memorandum to the government after about four hours of verbal discussions, and meetings had been cordial.

"I appealed to all the protesters to end ​their sit-in and help the administration restore normalcy," he said in a post on X.

Protesters demand an end to 'corruption' in education

The Cockroach Janta Party's surge in popularity reflects frustrations among young Indians, including job shortages ‌as well ⁠as exam leaks, which they say happen frequently.

Reuters reporters saw scores of young people streaming towards the protest site, as police barricades on routes to central Delhi snarled traffic.

"All these leaders in power are illiterate, and I am here to protest because we do not want question papers to leak," said Adi Nathan, 21, a student from Meerut city, about 100 km (60 miles) from the capital. "This should come to an end."

Television images showed police cane charges on some protesters in one area, although Delhi police denied use of force, saying the ​protest was "being handled professionally".

Reuters journalists also said security ​officers fired rounds of tear gas near ⁠parliament to disperse the protesters, while elsewhere, some protesters hurled stones at police.

Mohammed Tabrez, 22, a student preparing for competitive examinations that are the gateway to professional courses or jobs, said he had come from Amroha in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, about ​165 km away.

"We want this corruption to end," he said.

In a post on X, Delhi's police force appealed to the protesters ​to maintain peace, exercise ⁠restraint, and cooperate with officers in ensuring peace and public order.

Delhi Police appeals to CJP protesters to refrain from indulging in violent activities; advises people not to believe or circulate rumours. pic.twitter.com/0Fg3QwBIAz

— News Arena India (@NewsArenaIndia) July 20, 2026

Activist sets terms to end his fast

CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke and his supporters began a sit-in last month seeking Pradhan's resignation. Wangchuk joined them on June 28, launching an indefinite hunger strike.

Wangchuk asked hospital authorities in a handwritten note to let him join Monday's march, even if temporarily.

WHEN WILL I END THE FAST….!
Not withstanding my health my fast continues till after the Sansad Chalo March, and will be broken only under the following circumstances… pic.twitter.com/kaOGx2Nk4T

— Sonam Wangchuk (@Wangchuk66) July 20, 2026

Earlier on Monday, he offered ⁠to end ​his hunger strike if the government agreed to three conditions, including taking responsibility for what he said were ​recent failures in the education system and the exam leaks.

He said he would also end his protest if lawmakers and leaders of political parties met him in the hospital and assured him the conditions would be met.