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Protests Erupt in Delhi Over Education Minister’s Resignation
Leaders of India’s youth Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) have begun two weeks of sit-in protests in the capital, Delhi. Backed by a well-known activist who has started a hunger strike, the CJP is demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over leaked question papers for a national medical college entrance examination.
Indian media reports suggest that the government is considering significant cabinet changes, potentially moving Pradhan from his portfolio. The CJP, which gained 22 million followers on Instagram in just days since its establishment last month, has been vocal about their demand for Pradhan’s resignation due to the leak of question papers.
About 100 supporters gather daily at the protest site in central Delhi. Party founder Abhijeet Dipke and social activist Sonam Wangchuk have been leading the protests, with Wangchuk committing to a six-week hunger strike unless he dies first. They are awaiting an announcement from the government regarding any cabinet reshuffle before deciding on their next steps.
The CJP describes itself as representing “the lazy, the unemployed, and the chronically correct,” reflecting the frustrations of young Indians who make up more than half of India’s 1.42 billion population. Despite a national unemployment rate of 3.1% for those aged 15 and above in 2025, nearly 10% of those aged 15 to 29 were unemployed, with the figure rising to 13.6% in urban areas.
The question paper leak led to the cancellation of the medical college examination taken by 2.3 million aspirants. The government deployed military aircraft to transport exam papers and temporarily blocked the Telegram messaging platform where the leak was spread. Critics from Modi’s BJP, including party president Nitin Nabin, have labeled the CJP as an anti-India gang that needs to be taught a lesson by BJP workers.