Indian opposition leader joins Delhi protests demanding Modi's resignation over exam corruption

New Delhi, July 21, 2026 — Thousands of protesters led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) continued their demonstrations in New Delhi on Tuesday, demanding the resignation of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The protests, which began on Monday, have been met with a heavy police crackdown, resulting in injuries to nearly 180 people.

Rahul Gandhi, the leader of the opposition Indian National Congress (INC), joined the protests on Tuesday, marching with other Congress members towards the prime minister's residence. Gandhi demanded the resignation of both the education minister and Prime Minister Modi, citing the government's failure to address corruption in the education system.

The protests were sparked by allegations of corruption in the education system, particularly the leakage of exam questions for the national medical entrance test, which affected over two million students and led to several suicides. On Monday, thousands of young protesters attempted to march to the Parliament but were dispersed by police using tear gas and batons.

Prime Minister Modi addressed the issue on Tuesday, announcing the creation of a new system for public examinations that he claimed would be infallible. The announcement was made through Kiren Rijiju, the minister of parliamentary affairs, who also defended the transparency of the review process for the controversial exams.

Despite the government's response, the protesters remain unsatisfied. Abhijeet Dipke, the founder of the CJP, announced that the movement would continue to campaign but would not stage another march through New Delhi to avoid further injuries. Dipke apologized to supporters, particularly women who were beaten by male police officers during the clashes.

The protests have drawn significant attention to the issues of youth unemployment and corruption in India's education system. Opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, have criticized the government's handling of the situation and called for a debate in Parliament on the police violence against students.

The CJP, which has gained millions of followers on social media, was created in May in response to the exam leaks and has since become a prominent voice for youth dissatisfaction in India. The movement's leaders have vowed to continue their campaign until their demands are met.

The protests have become one of the largest demonstrations in India since Modi came to power in 2014. The opposition has seized on the issue to increase pressure on the government, with several opposition politicians condemning the use of force against the protesters.

Rahul Gandhi visited injured protesters and called their demands "legitimate," accusing Modi of being "youth-unfriendly." He also criticized the government for not taking responsibility or allowing a debate in Parliament on the issue.

The protests have highlighted the growing frustration among India's youth over issues such as unemployment and corruption. Despite India's rapid economic growth, millions of young people struggle to find stable and well-paying jobs, exacerbating their dissatisfaction with the government.

The government has yet to provide a timeline for the implementation of the new examination system or address the broader concerns raised by the protesters. The opposition has called for a thorough investigation into the exam leaks and the police response to the protests.

As of Tuesday evening, hundreds of protesters remained camped at the Jantar Mantar observatory in central Delhi, continuing to demand reforms in the education system and the resignation of key government officials.