India’s Leader of the Opposition, Rahul Gandhi, has demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi following a police crackdown on student protests in New Delhi. The demonstrations, which called for reforms in India’s education system and accountability over recent examination controversies, turned violent after clashes between protesters and security forces.
Speaking during a march towards the prime minister’s residence, Gandhi accused the government of failing the country’s youth and avoiding responsibility for the unrest. He stated that the prime minister should step down for “destroying the future of India’s youth” and criticised the government for refusing to hold a parliamentary debate on the issue. Gandhi later staged a sit in protest outside the prime minister’s residence before police detained him and several opposition lawmakers.
The protests erupted after thousands of students and activists gathered to demand the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Demonstrators blamed the government for repeated examination scandals that have damaged confidence in India’s education system. The movement gained momentum through the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), an online campaign that has attracted millions of supporters since its launch earlier this year.
According to police, at least 60 protesters and 118 police personnel were injured during Monday’s clashes. Authorities used tear gas and batons to disperse crowds after protesters allegedly threw stones. Protest organisers, however, accused the police of using excessive force and claimed that hundreds of peaceful demonstrators were injured during the operation.
Despite the crackdown, protest leaders vowed to continue their campaign until their demands are addressed. They are calling for greater transparency, accountability, and comprehensive reforms to restore trust in India’s examination process. Parliament was also disrupted as opposition lawmakers demanded a discussion on the police action against students.
The demonstrations come at a time when millions of young Indians continue to struggle with unemployment despite the country’s economic growth. Recent examination paper leaks and testing irregularities have further increased public frustration, making education reform one of the country’s most debated issues. While the government says it has arrested those responsible for the paper leaks and is working to create a foolproof examination system, Prime Minister Modi has not publicly commented on the latest protests.
