India police clash with 'Cockroach' activists

NEW DELHI — Supporters of India's youth-led Cockroach movement clashed with police on Monday as thousands tried to march to Parliament to demand the education minister's resignation, while the government appeared to make its first outreach to the movement's leaders.

Police fired tear gas and charged at protesters with batons when demonstrators tried to breach the barricades surrounding the protest site in central New Delhi, marking one of the most serious confrontations in the movement's campaign against Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government. Despite the crackdown, many protesters continued marching toward Parliament in small groups.

Cockroach Janta Party spokesman Saurav Das accused the authorities of "brutally cracking down" on "peaceful protesters". The Delhi Police said the march had not been authorized and that restrictions were needed to maintain law and order around Parliament during the monsoon session, which began on Monday.

The crowd at Jantar Mantar, a designated site for protests just a few kilometers from Parliament, included students, professionals and families with young children. As the day progressed, the gathering spilled beyond the protest site, with demonstrators filling surrounding streets and roads.

Many carried backpacks with water and food, expecting a long day. Others waved Indian flags as chants against Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Modi rippled through the growing crowd.

The Cockroach Janta Party emerged in May, after the Supreme Court chief justice compared some unemployed young people to "cockroaches" during an unrelated hearing. Supporters embraced the remark, turning it into a satirical movement that has attracted millions of followers on social media.

The movement gained momentum after repeated leaks of high-stakes entrance exams for medical colleges and government jobs sparked public anger. It drew wider attention after police forcibly moved hunger-striking activist Sonam Wangchuk to the hospital on Saturday.

Protesters calling themselves "cockroaches" have camped at Jantar Mantar for the past month, with members of several student groups joining Wangchuk's hunger strike. Thousands of supporters have also turned out at universities and rallies in other cities.

They are demanding the resignation of Pradhan, reforms to the examination system and compensation for the families of students who died by suicide following paper leaks.

Senior leaders in Modi's government have taken a hard line against the movement. Pradhan has accused the protesters of acting against the nation, while other ministers have acknowledged students' concerns but insisted there is no need for talks or negotiations with the movement.

However, that appeared to shift on Monday, when representatives of the movement held talks with Health Minister J. P. Nadda. It was the first apparent sign of government outreach to protest leaders, who sought to bring their demands directly to lawmakers, prompting the authorities to tighten security around the Parliament building.

AGENCIES VIA XINHUA