NEW DELHI, July 25 - Government negotiators and representatives of a youth-led protest convened for further discussions on Saturday after a week of demonstrations that have disrupted the capital. The demonstrators, mobilised mainly by Gen-Z activists, are insisting that Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan either accept responsibility or step down over failings in the examination system.
Thousands of protesters affiliated with the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) gathered in central Delhi on Saturday, even as authorities maintained restrictions designed to limit access to the protest site. The city's 18 metro stations remained closed for a fourth consecutive day, complicating movement into central areas.
"They have given us a time between 3.30 p.m. and 4 p.m. today," said Ashutosh Ranka, the CJP's national spokesperson. He added that demonstrators were seeking a direct answer on the education minister's future: "We need clarity on Dharmendra Pradhan's future. Will the government seek his resignation or not? We want a yes or no answer."
The demonstrations represent the largest youth-led challenge Prime Minister Narendra Modi has faced since he took office in 2014, with opposition parties echoing many of the protesters' demands and disrupting parliament's monsoon session this week.
Anger among students and young people intensified after police moved to disperse crowds on Monday, when officers used baton charges and fired tear gas to deter tens of thousands of protesters marching toward the seat of government. Those actions left many students injured and fuelled further public outrage.
At Friday's talks, CJP representatives Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka told federal ministers J.P. Nadda and Jitendra Singh that the protests risked spreading unless Pradhan resigned. Those discussions followed the end of a 26-day hunger strike by activist Sonam Wangchuk, which had raised hopes for a negotiated breakthrough.
The government extended a mobile internet shutdown in the area for a fifth straight day on Saturday, two sources said, speaking on condition of anonymity. Protesters expressed frustration over the ongoing communication blackout, but many pledged it would not deter participation.
"They can shut down internet, metros and buses, but what will that achieve? Nothing. People who want to join the protest will still come," said Rahul Raj, a 34-year-old protester at the site.
The immediate cause of the unrest was a series of leaks of question papers for medical school entrance examinations. Those leaks forced more than 2 million candidates to retake tests and exposed perceived shortcomings in the education system. Protesters are demanding Pradhan's resignation and sweeping reforms to exam administration and oversight.
The demonstrations have drawn broader criticism of job scarcity, corruption and government accountability among young people, themes that organisers say underpin the movement's momentum. As talks resumed, both sides faced pressure to avoid further escalation while addressing the protesters' central demand for clarity on ministerial accountability and systemic exam reforms.
Summary of developments
- Fresh talks between government officials and CJP leaders were scheduled for Saturday between 3.30 p.m. and 4 p.m.
- Protesters demand Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resign or accept responsibility for examination failures.
- Large crowds rallied in central Delhi despite the fourth day of closure of the city's 18 metro stations and a fifth day of mobile internet shutdown in the area.