India youth group says will not march again because police will ‘hurt youth’

  • Tear gas spreads around protesters as supporters of India's Cockroach Janta Party demonstrate on the opening day of the Indian parliament's monsoon session, demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over exam paper leaks, in New Delhi, India, 20 July, 2026. (Photo: Reuters)
  • A security force personnel wields his baton against demonstrators at a protest site during a planned march by supporters of India's Cockroach Janta Party towards parliament on the opening day of its monsoon session, demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over exam paper leaks near Jantar Mantar, New Delhi, India, July 20, 2026. (Photo: Reuters)
  • Abhijeet Dipke, head of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) meets injured supporters a day after thousands of protesters marched towards parliament demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over examination paper leaks, at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi, India, July 21, 2026. (Photo: Reuters)
  • Protesters scuffle with police as supporters of India's Cockroach Janta Party demonstrate on the opening day of the Indian parliament's monsoon session, demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over exam paper leaks, in New Delhi, India, July 20, 2026. (Photo: Reuters)
  • Tear gas spreads around protesters as supporters of India's Cockroach Janta Party demonstrate on the opening day of the Indian parliament's monsoon session, demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over exam paper leaks, in New Delhi, India, July 20, 2026. (Photo: Reuters)
  • Abhijeet Dipke, head of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) stands with injured supporters a day after thousands of protesters marched towards parliament demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over examination paper leaks, at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi, India, July 21, 2026. (Photo: Reuters)
  • A woman reacts as she stops police from detaining the demonstrator following a clash during a planned march by supporters of India's Cockroach Janta Party towards parliament on the opening day of its monsoon session, demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over exam paper leaks, near Jantar Mantar, New Delhi, India, July 20, 2026. (Photo: Reuters)
  • A demonstrator reacts as police detain her during a protest organised by supporters of India's Cockroach Janta Party demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over exam paper leaks, in Ahmedabad, India, July 20, 2026. (Photo: Reuters)

NEW DELHI, July 21 (Reuters) – India’s youth-led “cockroach” movement said on Tuesday it would continue ​its protest but will not march again, a day after ‌scores of supporters were injured in clashes with police who tried to stop their march on parliament.

Delhi Police said nearly 180 people, including 118 security and police personnel, ​and 60 protesters, were injured on Monday when they clashed in ​central Delhi.

Thousands of protesters from Delhi and nearby cities and ⁠towns gathered to march on parliament on Monday, joining a movement that began ​as an online satire but has turned out to become the biggest ​challenge for Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his third term.

The months-old movement by the self-named Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has drawn the support of millions of young, Gen Z ​Indians who are demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over ​examination paper leaks that affected more than 2 million students in May.

Seventy protesters had ‌been ⁠detained and legal action would be initiated against them, police said in a statement late on Monday.

Early on Tuesday, about 150-200 protesters gathered at the protest site of Jantar Mantar in central Delhi, chanting slogans amid ​a mild drizzle. Security ​remained tight ⁠with paramilitary personnel patrolling parts of central Delhi and barricades slowing traffic.

“We had to call off the protest yesterday ​because we did not want more youth to be ​injured,” ⁠CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke told a press conference.

“We will not march again because the police will hurt the youth again,” he said, adding that more ⁠than 150 ​protesters were undergoing treatment in hospital.

T.K.B. Sen

Journalist, media worker, reporter and analyst