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Thousands of students remained camped at Jantar Mantar on Friday as the Indian government sought more time to respond to protesters’ key demand for the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged examination paper leaks.
Representatives of the youth-led Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), which is spearheading the protests, held talks with senior federal ministers J.P. Nadda and Jitendra Singh. After the meeting, government representatives said they would respond by Saturday afternoon, while protest leaders vowed to continue their agitation until their demands are met.
Besides seeking Pradhan’s resignation, protesters are demanding that criminal cases against demonstrators be withdrawn and compensation be provided to the families of students who allegedly died by suicide following the exam scandal.
The movement gained fresh momentum after activist Sonam Wangchuk ended his 26-day hunger strike on Thursday following assurances from the government that peaceful protesters would not face prosecution. Despite ending his fast, Wangchuk urged authorities to continue dialogue with student leaders.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced a package of measures aimed at addressing concerns over examination integrity, including fast-track courts for paper-leak cases, tougher penalties for offenders and administrative changes in the education ministry. However, he stopped short of removing Pradhan, a decision that protesters said fell well short of their core demand.
Security remained tight in central Delhi, with heavy police deployment around Jantar Mantar, restrictions on movement and temporary suspension of mobile internet services in parts of the area to prevent unrest.
The protests, which began over alleged leaks in national entrance examinations, have evolved into one of the biggest youth-led movements during Modi’s tenure, drawing support from opposition parties and civil society groups across India.
