Key Facts

• The protest was the largest by the Cockroach movement, with more than 10,000 people marching toward the Indian parliament.
• Protesters want Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to resign over corruption claims in the exam system.
• Police used tear gas and baton charges against the protesters to disperse the crowd.
• The movement’s founder, Abhijeet Dipke, was detained by police during the protest.
• The Cockroach movement started online, mocking the government after a Supreme Court judge called unemployed youths “cockroaches.”
• The protest was triggered by anger over leaked medical entrance exam questions that forced 2.2 million students to retake the test, leading to great stress and several suicides.
• Veteran activist Sonam Wangchuk, who supported the movement by going on hunger strike, was forcibly hospitalized, increasing public anger.
• The government offered talks with two activists but did not meet the protesters’ demand to remove the education minister.