Senior Aam Aadmi Party leaders Manish Sisodia, Sanjay Singh and Atishi joined thousands of protesters at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar on Monday as a youth-led campaign over examination failures attempted to march towards Parliament.
The demonstration, organised under the banner of the Cockroach Janta Party, intensified political pressure on the Union government during the Monsoon Session of Parliament. Protesters demanded accountability for alleged examination paper leaks, reforms in recruitment and entrance testing, and the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
Sisodia, Singh and Atishi crossed police barricades to reach the protest venue after access routes were restricted. Their participation marked a significant expansion of opposition support for the campaign, which began as a student-driven movement but has drawn backing from political parties, activists and public figures.
Scuffles broke out when sections of the crowd tried to move beyond the designated protest area towards Parliament. Television footage showed security personnel using batons against demonstrators near barricades, while several participants were taken away by police.
Delhi Police disputed claims that protesters had been subjected to widespread violence or arbitrary detention. Officers said restrictions were imposed because permission had not been granted for a march to Parliament and crowd-control measures were necessary to prevent demonstrators from entering a high-security zone.
Heavy security was deployed around Jantar Mantar, Parliament Street and adjoining areas. Barricades were installed across approach roads, while access to several nearby transport points was temporarily restricted as the number of demonstrators increased.
Sisodia had appealed on Sunday for people to participate regardless of their political preferences, describing the protest as an issue concerning the future of the country’s youth. He said examination integrity and employment opportunities should not be treated as partisan subjects.
The AAP leaders accused the Centre of failing to respond adequately to allegations of paper leaks and administrative lapses affecting competitive examinations. They also criticised the police response, arguing that students seeking accountability should have been allowed to demonstrate peacefully.
The protest was linked to allegations surrounding the 2026 National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test for undergraduate medical admissions. More than two million candidates take the examination each year, making any claim of a leak or procedural failure a politically sensitive issue for students and families.
The Cockroach movement emerged after widespread anger over a judicial remark that protesters interpreted as comparing unemployed young people to cockroaches. Campaigners adopted the term as a symbol of resilience and converted it into an online and street mobilisation focused on examinations, unemployment and government accountability.
The movement’s organisers have accused authorities of ignoring repeated testing failures, delayed recruitment and allegations of corruption within examination systems. They have called for stronger safeguards, transparent investigations, time-bound recruitment and compensation for candidates affected by cancelled or disputed tests.
The mobilisation gained momentum after environmental engineer Sonam Wangchuk joined the campaign and began an indefinite hunger strike at Jantar Mantar. Wangchuk was moved to Safdarjung Hospital after his health deteriorated during the fast, triggering accusations from organisers that the authorities had forcibly removed him to weaken the protest.
Police maintained that Wangchuk was hospitalised on medical advice after concerns were raised about dehydration and his physical condition. His family and movement leaders questioned the manner in which he was transferred and demanded access to medical information.
Organisers said Wangchuk would consider ending his fast if lawmakers formally acknowledged the movement’s demands and initiated talks. CJP spokesperson Saurav Das was later taken to a senior administrative office, where discussions with government representatives were reported to have begun.
The confrontation also entered Parliament. Opposition members raised the examination controversy and the police response, accusing the government of using force against students. Rajya Sabha Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge said the dispute concerned the futures of large numbers of young people and demanded that the government address their grievances.
The Centre has defended measures taken to strengthen examination security, including tighter monitoring, digital safeguards and tougher penalties for organised cheating. Opposition parties and student groups argue that enforcement remains uneven and that accountability rarely extends to senior officials.
Youth unemployment has added force to the agitation. The unemployment rate among people aged 15 to 29 stood at about 9.9 per cent in 2025, while competition for public-sector jobs and university places continued to intensify.
