Clashes broke out in New Delhi on Monday after police moved to stop thousands of protesters associated with the so-called "Cockroach Janta Party" from marching towards parliament to demand the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
Footage from the demonstration showed police officers using batons against protesters, pushing demonstrators back and forcing some onto buses.
In one incident, officers were seen shoving a protester onto a bus moments after he had spoken to reporters. Other demonstrators continued speaking to journalists from inside the vehicle while police escorted additional detainees aboard.
PM @narendramodi tell your police to stand down. We are a democracy in case you have forgotten. The whole world is watching as you’re trying to crush a democratic and peaceful protest. pic.twitter.com/B1eEfDored
— Cockroach is Back (@Cockroachisback) July 20, 2026
A student taking part in the protest alleged that officers struck both him and female demonstrators.
"The police beat our sisters, the women protesters, and me as well. But I want to tell them that if even a single drop of my blood can serve the youth, I am ready for that. And I want to say that I will hang myself from this tree if Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan does not resign," he said.
Another student accused the government of repeatedly attempting to suppress peaceful youth protests.
"Every time we raised our voices peacefully, the Indian government tried to bury them. But let me say through your platform that if they try to silence one voice, a thousand more will be born," he said.
The demonstration was also attended by Sanjay Singh, a senior figure in the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), who urged police to allow the march to proceed.
"You can send your officers to escort us all the way to parliament," he said.
According to Saurabh Das, chief spokesperson for the Cockroach Janta Party, two members of the movement were on their way to meet a senior government minister.
The nation’s youth are marching on! #ChaloSansad pic.twitter.com/nmefBXqk3U
— Cockroach is Back (@Cockroachisback) July 20, 2026
The movement has been described as the most significant public challenge faced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his third term in office and has attracted millions of followers on social media.
The protests gained additional momentum following the forced hospitalisation of activist Sonam Wangchuk by police on 18 July while he was on a hunger strike. Overnight, thousands more supporters gathered at the protest site in Jantar Mantar, in the centre of the Indian capital.
According to analysts, the Cockroach Janta Party reflects growing frustration among young Indians over issues such as high youth unemployment and repeated examination paper leaks.
Official government data showed that the unemployment rate for people aged 15 and over stood at 3.1 per cent in 2025. However, among those aged 15 to 29, the rate was significantly higher at 9.9 per cent.
Youth unemployment reached 13.6 per cent in urban areas, compared with 8.3 per cent in rural areas.
