riot police charged at protesters in New Delhi using batons and tear gas as they tried to march to parliament, escalating a protest over irregularities in major examinations.
Protesters ran for cover as police in blue riot gear charged at them near the Jantar Mantar protest site, an AFP journalist saw.
Thousands of protesters started gathering from yesterday, defying a steady monsoon drizzle and police barricades put up on routes leading to the site.
The protesters are demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the irregularities, including question paper leaks and technical glitches.
“We want the government to hear us, not silence us,” said student KM Gulshan, 19.
The protest comes after prominent activist Sonam Wangchuk was taken to hospital on Saturday, bringing an abrupt end to his 20-day hunger strike in support of youths and the satirical Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) movement.
The CJP has won millions of followers on social media since its launch in May, tapping into widespread anger over the education system and unemployment.
The movement is seen as one of the biggest challenges to Hindu- nationalist Prime Minister Narendra Modi since he won his third term in office in 2024.
“PM @narendramodi – tell your police to stand down,” the CJP said in a post on X yesterday.
“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.”
The Internet was snapped in parts of central New Delhi yesterday, with police saying the protesters did not have their permission to hold the protest.
“Any person violating these prohibitory orders shall be liable for prosecution,” Delhi police said in a statement.
Modi, in a public address before the start of the monsoon session of parliament, did not mention the protesters. — AFP
