India's Education Minister, Dharmendra Pradhan, has resigned, becoming the first senior minister in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 12 years in power to be forced from office by a mass-protest movement. The resignation followed reports of police attacking protesters marching to parliament, though security sources claim they were attacked.
The protests were initiated by the 'Cockroach Janta party' (CJP), a parody of Mr Modi’s Bharatiya Janata party (BJP), which began demonstrating peacefully in Delhi in June. The movement was sparked by an Indian student, Abhijeet Dipke, who posted on X after India’s top judge reportedly likened unemployed youths to insects and “parasites,” and millions of medical exams were compromised by leaks.
The CJP has accused the government of breaching the terms of a settlement offered by Mr Modi's administration. They claim at least 100 people have been arrested, many on non-bailable charges, and are now demanding the release of detainees while threatening to remobilise nationally.
The historian Mukul Kesavan, writing in the Guardian, suggests the CJP's social-media skills are crucial. Political scientist Christophe Jaffrelot argues the CJP represents a deeper revolt than just anger over exam leaks, becoming the voice of educated young Indians facing jobless growth, poor education, and insecure work.