India’s youth-led protests continue after activist ends hunger strike
An activist has ended his 26-day hunger strike that helped to galvanize India’s youth-led “Cockroach” protests, turning them into one of the most sustained challenges to the country’s leadership in years, reports BritPanorama.
Despite Sonam Wangchuk’s decision to halt his fast, demonstrators vowed to press on, with protests spreading from the capital New Delhi to other cities, including Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and Ahmedabad.
Wangchuk’s fast began amid protests over education reforms following alleged leaks in some of the country’s most competitive university entrance exams. It quickly became a focal point for public dissatisfaction regarding education, economic inequality, and the governance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
In a post on X, Wangchuk stated that he ended his fast after receiving appeals from dozens of members of parliament and following negotiations aimed at preventing potential violence. While acknowledging that not all his demands were met, he noted the presence of two federal lawmakers at the conclusion of his fast.
However, Abhijeet Dipke, a Boston University graduate and founder of the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), asserted that protests would persist until India’s Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigns.
“After all of this, we don’t accept anything less than a resignation,” he told supporters, emphasizing the protesters’ determination as the unrest showed no signs of receding. CJP leaders indicated they began talks with government officials in hopes of a standoff resolution.
The CJP initially emerged as a satirical youth movement after India’s Chief Justice Surya Kant likened unemployed young people to “cockroaches.” Its popularity has surged, positioning the movement as the most significant challenge to Modi in his 12 years in office.
On Thursday night, Modi addressed the protests publicly for the first time via a video posted on Instagram, acknowledging the gravity of the paper leak issue and defending his government’s decision to allow 2 million students to retake medical entrance exams.
Moreover, he announced the establishment of fast-track courts to prosecute cases associated with examination paper leaks. Yet, protesters deemed his response insufficient and returned to the streets of New Delhi on Friday, despite authorities shutting 18 metro stations, disrupting vital transportation for the city’s 23 million residents.
The rallies reflect growing frustration over educational integrity and governmental accountability as the government grapples with widespread unrest.
