NEW DELHI: India’s youth-led Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has called on authorities to immediately release all protesters detained during weeks of nationwide demonstrations, warning that failure to do so would amount to a breach of public trust.
The movement, which spearheaded protests over examination paper leaks and alleged irregularities, said it had received reports of students being held in detention, particularly in the states of Assam, West Bengal, and Bihar.
CJP Demands Release of Detained Students
In a statement issued on Monday, the CJP said authorities must release all detained protesters and withdraw criminal cases filed against them.
“Any failure to release those detained or withdraw criminal cases would amount to a breach of public trust,” the group said.
The organisation also warned that it would take “further necessary steps” if its demands were not met.
Call Comes After Education Minister’s Resignation
The demand follows the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan as India’s education minister on Saturday after weeks of protests over repeated examination paper leaks and alleged failures in the country’s competitive examination system.
The demonstrations drew widespread participation from students and young people across India, with protesters demanding accountability and reforms.
India blocks mobile internet in central Delhi as ‘Cockroach’ protests intensify
CJP Accuses Government of Backtracking
The protest movement accused the Indian government of failing to honour earlier assurances that no punitive action would be taken against demonstrators.
According to the CJP, authorities had promised protesters they would not face legal consequences for participating in the rallies.
Movement Gains Millions of Followers
The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) was launched in May 2026 by Abhijeet Dipke, a 30-year-old public relations graduate.
Since its launch, the movement has attracted millions of followers on social media and evolved into one of India’s largest youth-led protest campaigns, focusing on examination reforms, employment opportunities, and government accountability.
Violent Clashes in New Delhi
Large-scale demonstrations took place in New Delhi and several other cities last week, with tens of thousands of students demanding the resignation of the education minister.
The protests turned violent on July 20, when demonstrators attempted to march from Jantar Mantar toward Parliament.
Police used tear gas and batons to disperse the crowd, leading to clashes and the detention of several protesters.
Opposition Raises Issue in Parliament
The police crackdown also dominated proceedings in India’s Parliament on Monday, where opposition lawmakers repeatedly disrupted sessions while demanding an explanation from the government.
Despite the protests inside Parliament, the government introduced legislation in the lower house proposing stricter penalties for examination paper leaks, aiming to strengthen the integrity of the country’s competitive examination system.
