Rahul Gandhi condemns police action against CJP marchers.
Delhi Police used tear gas and batons to stop protesters marching to Parliament over alleged exam irregularities and paper leaks.
- He called the police response “disgusting” and “not democratic.”
- The protest was aimed at Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over exam irregularities.
- The CJP said its leaders met Union Minister JP Nadda and submitted a letter with demands.
Rahul Gandhi has backed the protesting students in Delhi, saying they are demanding their rights and should not be met with tear gas and lathis. His comments add a sharp political edge to an already tense confrontation between the protesters and the Centre.
The protest, led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and student supporters, turned volatile on Monday when police stopped the march toward Parliament and used crowd-control measures to disperse demonstrators. The group is demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over exam irregularities, including paper leaks and technical glitches.
Gandhi called the police response “disgusting” and said it was “not democratic” and “not India’s way.” He also posted a video of the crackdown, accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The human side of this unrest is hard to miss. Many of the faces in the crowd are young people who say they have spent years studying, waiting and hoping, only to feel betrayed by a system they believe has failed them. Their anger is not just about one exam or one minister; it is about trust, fairness and the fear that hard work is being undone by leaks and administrative failures.
On the ground, the day began with heightened security and ended with confrontation. Police fired tear gas and baton-charged protesters who tried to move toward Parliament, while the CJP accused the force of attacking peaceful demonstrators. The party also said the internet was cut in parts of central Delhi and that police had not granted permission for the march.
The protest gained further attention after activist Sonam Wangchuk was taken to hospital, ending his hunger strike and giving the movement a new emotional center. His health crisis, combined with the anger of students and the visibility of the crackdown, has turned what began as an education protest into a much larger political flashpoint.
The CJP says its demands are simple: accountability, reform and a fairer system for young people. Gandhi echoed that sentiment, saying the protesters are not criminals but citizens asking for education that respects them and works for them. That framing matters because it shifts the debate from law and order to the deeper frustration many families feel about the future of their children.
The government, meanwhile, has tried to project a different picture. Union Minister JP Nadda confirmed that CJP representatives met him and said the discussion took place in a cordial atmosphere. That suggests some channel of communication is open, even if the streets tell a more confrontational story.
For now, the core conflict remains unresolved. Students want answers, the opposition wants accountability, and the police say order had to be restored.