The largest protests under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 12-year rule are unfolding in New Delhi and other cities, spearheaded by the group 'Cockroach Janta Party' (CJP). The immediate trigger was a leak of a crucial medical exam, forcing many students to retake the test, fueling widespread anger and a spate of student suicides.
The federal government and state administrations led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have adopted a dual response: measured crackdowns and simultaneous outreach to youth. In several states, hundreds of young people, including minors, have been arrested and face serious charges.
Under public pressure and opposition criticism, India's Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered the release of all arrested protesters under 18. State governments in West Bengal, Maharashtra, Bihar, Assam, and the national capital Delhi have halted action against protesters and announced they will withdraw cases.
Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned on Saturday—a rare blow to the Modi government. Protesters celebrated this as a victory for their movement.
However, the government has been accused of using AI surveillance technology to track and detain protesters. Delhi Police have also filed First Information Reports (FIRs) against social media posts deemed insulting to Prime Minister Modi, demanding platform X provide account details. During protests, police recorded participants' Instagram accounts.
A CJP spokesperson, Saurav Das, said the government has not yet provided a written commitment to withdraw all cases. CJP questioned: 'Since when does an elected official stand above scrutiny? In a democracy, citizens have the right to demand answers and accountability from their prime minister.'
Alongside the crackdown, the government has launched a youth appeal campaign. The BJP has posted videos on social media adopting pop-culture styles and casual conversations to convey political messages. One video set in a gym shows an older coach arguing that Pradhan's resignation 'is not a victory for the Jantar Mantar movement, but the strength of democracy.' Prime Minister Modi himself has posted vertical selfie-style videos on Instagram to connect with protesters.
According to Pew Research, people under 29, including Gen Z, make up about half of India's population.
