Tear Gas, Baton Charges as Thousands Push Toward India's Parliament Over Exam-Leak Scandal
A student-led movement calling itself the Cockroach Janta Party tried to march on Parliament in New Delhi on Monday, demanding an education minister's ouster and compensation for students who died after a national medical entrance exam was leaked. Security forces met the crowds with tear gas and batons within 200 metres of the building.
By The Numbers
What protesters are demanding
Organizers say they want three things: the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, the immediate release of hospitalized activist Sonam Wangchuk, and roughly ₹1 crore in compensation for each medical-entrance-exam candidate who died after last year's leak of the NEET-UG paper.
Clashes On The Ground
Morning — Mandi House to Jantar Mantar
Police used sticks and batons to break up hundreds of students and young activists walking toward the Jantar Mantar rally point, witnesses said, with no immediate statement from police on the use of force.
Midday — Parliament Street Barricades
Security personnel baton-charged crowds after protesters tried to push through barricades in the high-security zone around midday; officials said a scuffle left both protesters and police with minor injuries, and roughly a dozen people were detained.
Afternoon — Rafi Marg & India Gate
A sit-in at Rafi Marg was cleared by police, and the crowd — including children — regrouped at the India Gate lawns, where police vehicles were driven onto the grass to disperse them.
Evening — Raisina Road, 200m From Parliament
By late afternoon, marchers had pushed to within 200 metres of Parliament on Raisina Road before tear gas shells were fired to stop them, on the opening day of the Monsoon Session.
City Under Lockdown
Delhi Metro shut five stations — Janpath, Rajiv Chowk, Patel Chowk, Central Secretariat and Seva Teerth — citing security, though interchange access stayed open at two of them. Mobile internet was also suspended in parts of central Delhi, which organizers said was hampering their ability to post live updates. A prohibitory order under Section 163 of the BNSS was in force across New Delhi district, barring gatherings of five or more people outside the designated Jantar Mantar site.
Key Figures & Negotiations
Sonam Wangchuk
The hospitalized activist, whose supporters make up much of the movement, wrote to Safdarjung Hospital's director asking to be discharged so he could join the march, arguing his vital signs were stable enough to leave. Hospital authorities instead said his blood work still called for close monitoring and kept him under observation. His wife has separately gone to the Delhi High Court seeking his transfer to a private hospital of the family's choosing.
Talks With The Government
Movement spokespeople Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka spent over two hours waiting before a short meeting with Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda, where they handed over their written demands. Nadda reportedly said he would raise the issues internally but made no firm commitments. Organizers say they had turned down earlier offers to negotiate with more junior officials, holding out for talks with the Prime Minister or a full Cabinet minister.
Hunger Strike Ends — For Three
Three student hunger strikers linked to the All India Students' Association broke their 23-day fast on Monday after appeals from a delegation of MPs, a senior advocate, an academic and two film actors. The group said it would keep up pressure through a month-long campaign targeting the education minister and exam authorities instead.
Tear Gas, Baton Charges as Thousands Push Toward India's Parliament Over Exam-Leak Scandal
A student-led movement calling itself the Cockroach Janta Party tried to march on Parliament in New Delhi on Monday, demanding an education minister's ouster and compensation for students who died after a national medical entrance exam was leaked. Security forces met the crowds with tear gas and batons within 200 metres of the building.
By The Numbers
What protesters are demanding
Organizers say they want three things: the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, the immediate release of hospitalized activist Sonam Wangchuk, and roughly ₹1 crore in compensation for each medical-entrance-exam candidate who died after last year's leak of the NEET-UG paper.
Clashes On The Ground
Morning — Mandi House to Jantar Mantar
Police used sticks and batons to break up hundreds of students and young activists walking toward the Jantar Mantar rally point, witnesses said, with no immediate statement from police on the use of force.
Midday — Parliament Street Barricades
Security personnel baton-charged crowds after protesters tried to push through barricades in the high-security zone around midday; officials said a scuffle left both protesters and police with minor injuries, and roughly a dozen people were detained.
Afternoon — Rafi Marg & India Gate
A sit-in at Rafi Marg was cleared by police, and the crowd — including children — regrouped at the India Gate lawns, where police vehicles were driven onto the grass to disperse them.
Evening — Raisina Road, 200m From Parliament
By late afternoon, marchers had pushed to within 200 metres of Parliament on Raisina Road before tear gas shells were fired to stop them, on the opening day of the Monsoon Session.
City Under Lockdown
Delhi Metro shut five stations — Janpath, Rajiv Chowk, Patel Chowk, Central Secretariat and Seva Teerth — citing security, though interchange access stayed open at two of them. Mobile internet was also suspended in parts of central Delhi, which organizers said was hampering their ability to post live updates. A prohibitory order under Section 163 of the BNSS was in force across New Delhi district, barring gatherings of five or more people outside the designated Jantar Mantar site.
Key Figures & Negotiations
Sonam Wangchuk
The hospitalized activist, whose supporters make up much of the movement, wrote to Safdarjung Hospital's director asking to be discharged so he could join the march, arguing his vital signs were stable enough to leave. Hospital authorities instead said his blood work still called for close monitoring and kept him under observation. His wife has separately gone to the Delhi High Court seeking his transfer to a private hospital of the family's choosing.
Talks With The Government
Movement spokespeople Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka spent over two hours waiting before a short meeting with Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda, where they handed over their written demands. Nadda reportedly said he would raise the issues internally but made no firm commitments. Organizers say they had turned down earlier offers to negotiate with more junior officials, holding out for talks with the Prime Minister or a full Cabinet minister.
Hunger Strike Ends — For Three
Three student hunger strikers linked to the All India Students' Association broke their 23-day fast on Monday after appeals from a delegation of MPs, a senior advocate, an academic and two film actors. The group said it would keep up pressure through a month-long campaign targeting the education minister and exam authorities instead.
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