NEW DELHI — Thousands of young protesters were camped on the streets of India’s capital New Delhi on Thursday defying new restrictions in the latest show of strength as Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the issue publicly for the first time on Thursday, announcing fast-track courts to try and punish officials involved in examination paper leaks.The protests began more than a month ago over alleged leaks in some of the country’s most competitive entrance exams for medical colleges and government jobs. The movement has since expanded beyond exam grievances, drawing professionals and families while channeling broader frustration.From New York to London, support for India’s “cockroach” protests are going global, amplifying a movement that has become one of the biggest challenges to Modi’s government. Members of the Indian diaspora in major cities around the world rallied in support of the student protests back home.New York witnessed demonstrations in solidarity with the brutalized protesters in Delhi. The protesters gathered at the Mahatma Gandhi statue in New York City’s Union Square carrying placards in support of students.Similar demonstrations were held in London where the protesters gathered in front of the Indian High Commission in support of the nationwide movement demanding reforms in India’s education system and accountability over the alleged irregularities.Germany and the Netherlands as well as other British cities also witnessed demonstrations in support of the “cockroach” movement.Thursday’s demonstrations at Jantar Mantar, a designated protest site in New Delhi, followed overnight clashes in which police used tear gas and batons to disperse crowds, the second such confrontation this week.On Monday, thousands of protesters had defied restrictions and marched toward Parliament before police broke up the demonstration with tear gas and batons.Protesters regrouped by Thursday morning, returning to the protest site despite roadblocks, while authorities suspended Delhi Metro services at 16 stations across central New Delhi in an effort to limit access to the demonstrations.“In the last few hours, we’re hearing that 16 metro stations in and around that protest site have been shut by officials,” Al Jazeera’s Neeha Poonia said on Thursday, reporting from New Delhi. “People there are saying that after what happened on Monday with the police crackdown, that’s only strengthened their resolve not to call off the protest.”On Monday, demonstrators marching towards parliament were met by police firing tear gas and wielding batons. Facing mounting pressure, Modi addressed the issue publicly for the first time Thursday, announcing fast-track courts to handle examination paper leak cases. Fast-track courts are special courts created to speed up cases in India’s notoriously slow justice system.“Nothing is more important than the welfare and future of our youth!” Modi wrote on X on Thursday.“We have decided to set up fast-track courts to ensure swift and stringent punishment for those involved in paper leaks. … Those who try to harm the future of our youth will not be spared.”The offer of faster justice than usual from India’s clogged judicial system, which can take decades to deliver a verdict, was swiftly rejected by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), the satirical name the youth protest movement coined after India’s top judge called unemployed youths “cockroaches”.The issue of exam leaks has become a powerful symbol of frustration for millions of young Indians. Protesters are demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, examination system reforms and compensation for families of students who died by suicide after exam paper leaks.Demonstrators have occupied Parliament Street for three days with many camping on the key thoroughfare that connects Parliament House to Connaught Place, the Indian capital’s central commercial square.Young people across India have also rallied behind the CJP’s demands, with three consecutive days of demonstrations in major cities like Mumbai, Bengaluru and Patna and solidarity protests in Chennai, Calicut, Indore, Hyderabad, and Patiala. Speaking to the ANI news agency at the Jantar Mantar protest site in New Delhi, the CJP’s founding president, Abhijeet Dipke, accused outside agitators of instigating recent violence to discredit the demonstration.“People are being sent from outside to deliberately disrupt the protest,” Dipke told ANI. “We have been sitting here for a month. No such incident has happened. … Goons are being sent from outside … to deliberately incite people.”Dipke later posted on X that Modi appeared “ready to shut down all of Delhi, but not sack Dharmendra Pradhan”.CJP spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka dismissed Modi’s judicial proposal as insufficient to address underlying systemic failures.“The announcement of fast-track courts is not a real solution. It is merely a distraction,” Ranka said in a statement at Jantar Mantar. “Paper leaks are not happening because India lacked fast-track courts. They are happening because Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has been completely incompetent.”The CJP’s demands include Pradhan’s immediate resignation, the dropping of cases against peaceful demonstrators and 10 million rupees ($120,000) in financial assistance for each of the families of at least 12 students who have died by suicide since recent exam cancellations. Many in India are asking why Pradhan will not resign.Anish Gawande, an opposition politician, said Modi viewed backing down as a sign of weakness, particularly now that he no longer commands the parliamentary majority he enjoyed during his first two terms.“He is facing global headwinds that prevent him from executing any major reforms in agriculture, energy, the economy. The unemployment rate is climbing to levels not seen in three decades,” he said. “A show of weakness now will give an entry point for the opposition to move in and build a similar momentum around other issues […] Before you know it, things have spiralled out of control.”The rapid rise of the CJP underscores growing dissatisfaction among India’s youth over high unemployment and recurring test leaks. The movement has also provided opposition leaders a key opportunity to challenge Modi and his ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.
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