NEW DELHI — Supporters of the Cockroach Janta Party continued their protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on July 21, 2026. Protesters vowed to remain at the sit-in site until Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigns.

The demonstrations escalated a day earlier when police used tear gas and batons to disperse thousands of protesters who attempted to march toward Parliament on July 20, 2026. Delhi Police reported that 180 people were injured during the confrontation, including 118 security personnel and 60 protesters. Videos of police beating protesters and dragging them away circulated on social media. Protest remnants including blood spots, overturned barricades, and shattered mirrors were visible on Parliament Street and Connaught Place the following day.

Abhijeet Dipke, founder of the Cockroach Janta Party, addressed the crowd at Jantar Mantar. "We are going to continue our protest," he said. He also condemned the law enforcement response with a statement: "This barbaric Delhi police has beaten up our students and comrades. We are heartbroken. We will continue to resist and demand accountability from the government. We will not back down until Dharmendra Pradhan resigns." Student Sona Bisht expressed defiance regarding the government's stance on the youth demonstrations.

"If the government thinks that doing this with Gen Z, they can stop us, then that won’t happen. We are here talking about education, talking about securing our future. And till the time our demands are not met, we will not move from here," Bisht said. Rabina Kashyap, a working professional, joined the sit-in to show solidarity. "I have nothing to do with this protest. But this is India, this is my country, and these are my people. So I will stand by them," Kashyap said.

The movement focuses on exam leaks, unemployment, and government accountability. Movement leaders demanded Pradhan’s resignation, examination reforms, and compensation for families of students who died by suicide. The movement's demands included Pradhan’s immediate resignation, Wangchuk’s discharge from hospital, and compensation of nearly $105,000 for the families of students who died by suicide.

More than 20 students died by suicide, many citing paper leaks. The Cockroach Janta Party was founded two months prior to July 2026.

A senior minister held talks with movement representatives on Monday. CJP spokespeople met with Health Minister JP Nadda to convey demands. JP Nadda stated he met with the spokespeople in a cordial atmosphere and requested protesters to end the sit-in.

Delhi Police filed at least five criminal cases against protesters related to violence, stone-throwing, and vandalism. Activist Sonam Wangchuk was forcibly taken to a hospital by police after a three-week hunger strike. Sonam Wangchuk broke his hunger strike before the march on Monday but stated he would resume it. The Delhi High Court has refused immediate relief regarding Sonam Wangchuk's detention. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has not addressed the protests.

The unrest shows ongoing tensions regarding educational integrity and state responses to dissent in India. The scale of the injuries and the number of criminal cases filed indicate a significant confrontation between state authorities and the protest movement. The involvement of activist Sonam Wangchuk and the public circulation of arrest videos have drawn attention to the methods used during the dispersal. The demands for financial compensation for families affected by student suicides link the political protest to specific tragic outcomes attributed to exam leaks.