NEW DELHI – The protests by students and young people under the banner of Cockroaches Jantar Party (CJP) over alleged examination paper leaks have spread beyond New Delhi to several major Indian cities, with demonstrators demanding the resignation of the country’s education minister.
The Indian media reported that the protests have expanded to Mumbai, Patna, Kerala and Goa, where hundreds of protesters gathered, accusing the government of failing to prevent repeated exam paper leaks.
The demonstrations continue as students call for reforms to India’s examination system and greater accountability over the repeated paper leak controversies.
A youth group involved in the protests described Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s response to the issue as inadequate, alleging that incompetence within the education system has allowed such incidents to continue. Protesters claimed officials, including the education minister, had failed to ensure transparency and accountability.
The group also alleged that supporters of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) were attempting to discredit the movement by provoking violence during demonstrations.
Meanwhile, veteran Indian actress Shabana Azmi joined one of the protests, where she recited renowned Pakistani poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz’s poem “Bol Ke Lab Azad Hain Tere” in a show of solidarity with the protesting students.
