Police block thousands of 'cockroach' protesters marching on India's parliament

Key developments are emerging from the global stage. Police block thousands of 'cockroach' protesters marching on India's parliamentImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Tens of thousands of people attended Monday's protestsByGeeta Pandey, Zoya Mateen & Azadeh MoshiriPublished1 hour agoThousands of supporters of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), a youth-led protest movement, took to the streets of Delhi, defying a police ban to march to parliament and demand the resignation of India's education minister. Police blocked the march with barricades, sparking scuffles as protesters tried to push through. Several demonstrators said they had been injured in baton-charges.

The police did not comment. The march followed weeks of protests over alleged exam paper leaks, which supporters say reflect a wider education system crisis. The movement has since broadened into one of the most visible expressions of public dissent against Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government in recent years.

The Details

Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Clashes were reported between the police and protesters in some placesIt gathered fresh momentum over the weekend after police forcibly moved activist Sonam Wangchuk into hospital on the 21st day of his hunger strike in support of the movement. His wife says fast continues. On Monday, Wangchuk appealed to doctors to discharge him so he could join the march but was not allowed.

The movement takes its name from a remark by India's chief justice, who drew criticism after comparing sections of unemployed young people to "cockroaches" during a court hearing. Although police had made clear protesters would not be given permission to march to parliament, tens of thousands of students, parents, teachers and professionals gathered from early morning at Jantar Mantar, a 300-year-old observatory in central Delhi, and remained there despite heavy rain. The contrast between the protest site and the security outside was striking.

Young people draped in Indian flags queued for food, painted placards and posed for photographs, while rows of police and paramilitary personnel sealed every road to parliament around them. Volunteers handed out food and water, patriotic songs blared from loudspeakers and organisers repeatedly urged supporters not to confront police if they were stopped. Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, The protest march began from Jantar Mantar, where thousands have been camping for weeksAs the march began, protesters spilled onto the streets before being halted at successive barricades.

What Experts Say

Many sat on the road waving flags and shouting slogans. Others broke away in smaller groups, trying to reach parliament through narrow side streets. Inside parliament, meanwhile, the opening day of the monsoon session was repeatedly adjourned as opposition MPs protested over the alleged paper leak and other issues.

As police pushed back groups trying to breach the barricades, the first reports of injuries began to emerge.

The development has drawn wide international attention, with diplomatic circles watching closely.