The protests were led by young people who formed the satirical ‘Cockroach Party’ (Cockroach Janta Party/CJP) in May. They are demanding education reforms and the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. He is expected to take political responsibility for the sale of questions from the national medical entrance exam, forcing hundreds of thousands to retake the test.
Police blocked access to the parliament building. According to Indian media, police used tear gas and beat protesters with batons. Reporters reportedly observed police being pelted with stones. People on both sides suffered minor injuries. Police denied allegations of violence. The government had already declared the demonstration illegal on Sunday.
The CJP announced during the protest that the government was showing willingness to cooperate: Health Minister J.P. Nadda had asked for time to discuss the CJP’s demands with his colleagues. Nadda himself said after a meeting with two movement leaders that he had urged the demonstrators to end their sit-in. The founder of the ‘Cockroach Party’, Abhijeet Dipke, is neither in custody nor under arrest, according to the CJP.
Source: www.spiegel.de
