The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), the online-born movement that channelled the anger of India's youth into mass protests culminating in the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is now demanding the immediate release of all protesters still in custody.
"We demand that all those detained or arrested be released immediately, in any case by tomorrow, and that all prosecutions against protesters be dropped," a CJP spokesperson said in a post on X.
CJP spokesman Saurav Das said the decision to halt the protests had been made solely on the basis of the government's promises, adding that any breach of that trust would be "completely unacceptable" to young people, and warning that the movement would take "the necessary measures" if that happens.
Student anger boiled over after mass fraud was uncovered in medical school entrance exams in May, in which two million young people took part. Their cancellation led to the suicide of twenty children, according to the Indian press.
Alongside their demands for education reform, young people have added concerns over unemployment in an economy that is nonetheless growing rapidly, as well as criticism of what they describe as Narendra Modi's authoritarian style of government, in power since 2014.
After weeks of mobilisation and the violent crackdown on a demonstration in central New Delhi last Monday, the protest movement won its first victory on Saturday with the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, its central demand, and the protests were called off as a result.
As part of the crackdown on the movement, Indian police have carried out a large number of arrests of protesters. The outcome of the crisis is widely seen as a political blow to Narendra Modi, who has built his image on being an uncompromising leader.
Under pressure, the Indian prime minister announced yesterday a far-reaching reform of the examination system, aimed at making it more "reliable" and "transparent." At the same time, the cabinet adopted a bill toughening penalties for those who break exam rules.
Debate on the bill in the Indian parliament has repeatedly been interrupted by the opposition, which has sided with young people and condemned the brutality of the police crackdown on the movement.
Source: AMNA
