India Cockroach movement vows to continue protests after police crackdown, demands minister's resignation

Leaders of India’s youth‑led Cockroach movement announced on Tuesday that they will persist with their protests following a police crackdown the previous day. The movement, which has drawn attention to alleged leaks of entrance exam questions for medical schools, called for the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan amid repeated accusations of corruption and malpractice.

Two prominent members of the group met with a government minister on July 20 to discuss the issue, but the movement’s demands remain unaddressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The leaders cited the lack of a formal response from the central government as a key reason for continuing their demonstrations.

The Cockroach movement’s vow to keep protesting signals ongoing pressure on the Ministry of Education to investigate the alleged leaks and to hold the minister accountable. The group’s next actions will likely depend on the outcome of the meeting with the government minister and any subsequent policy responses from the Modi administration.