NEW DELHI: The Indian government on Thursday ordered telecom operators to suspend mobile internet services in New Delhi as thousands of young protesters continued their protests demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the examination paper leak controversy.
The government directed telecom companies to disable mobile data services in and around the main protest site in central Delhi, according to Reuters citing sources. The companies complied with the order, the sources said.
Mobile internet connectivity was unavailable across several parts of central Delhi on Thursday evening, according to Reuters. Vendors, shopkeepers and restaurants said the disruption prevented them from accepting digital payments.
जंतर मंतर के पास 1.5 किमी के दायरे में 8 घंटे के लिए इंटरनेट बंद किए जाने का निर्देश।
सरकार करना क्या चाहती है?? pic.twitter.com/kOXY40g039
— Cockroach Janta Party (@CJP_for_India) July 23, 2026
Spokespersons for the Indian government and the Department of Telecommunications did not immediately respond to Reuters’ requests for comment. Leading telecom operators Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea also did not immediately respond.
Thousands defy restrictions
Thousands of protesters remained camped at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi’s designated protest site, despite heightened security restrictions and repeated police violence.
“Rapes will stop if you catch rapists instead of harrasing us”
Azamgarh 📍
“Naari Shakti Jindabad” pic.twitter.com/phVikkJTYj
— Cockroach Janta Party (@CJP_for_India) July 23, 2026
The demonstrations followed overnight violent clashes during which police used tear gas and batons to disperse crowds, marking the second such confrontation this week.
On Monday, tens of thousands of demonstrators marched towards Parliament after defying restrictions. Police responded with tear gas and baton charges to disperse the crowds.
Despite roadblocks, protesters regrouped on Thursday and returned to the protest site. Authorities also suspended Delhi Metro services at 16 stations across central New Delhi in an effort to restrict access to the demonstrations.
“मैं नरेंद्र मोदी को धन्यवाद कहना चाहता हूं क्योंकि अगर वो सोनम वांगचुक को यहां (जंतर-मंतर) से ना हटाते तो हमारा आंदोलन इतना बड़ा नहीं बनता…”- अभिजीत दीपके pic.twitter.com/HIrxuWtbqD
— Cockroach Janta Party (@CJP_for_India) July 23, 2026
Police said at least 178 people, including security personnel, were injured during Monday’s violent clashes.
Protesters also hurled stones as tensions escalated, resulting in the capital’s largest street mobilisation in about five years.
Cockroach movement expands
The “Cockroach” protest movement began more than a month ago following allegations of examination paper leaks affecting India’s most competitive entrance examinations for medical colleges and government jobs.
The campaign has since evolved into a broader movement expressing frustration over unemployment, opportunities for young people and the Modi government’s lack of accountability.
देश के कोने कोने से छात्रों का समर्थन है,
पेपर लीक जैसी भयंकर महामारी से सभी युवा त्रस्त है, https://t.co/RGHFSjDhWc— Cockroach Janta Party (@CJP_for_India) July 23, 2026
The movement was launched in May by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) as an online satire campaign before expanding into nationwide street demonstrations in June.
The CJP said it initially emerged after Chief Justice Surya Kant likened young people to “cockroaches” and “parasites” during a court hearing.
The movement later gained momentum after prominent activist Sonam Wangchuk joined the demonstrations and began a hunger strike that has continued for more than three weeks. Police transferred Wangchuk to hospital over the weekend.
The protests have also attracted professionals, families and supporters from across India, making them one of the biggest public challenges to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Modi’s announcement fails to satisfy protesters
Facing mounting pressure, Modi addressed the controversy for the first time on Thursday.
“Nothing is more important than the welfare and future of our youth!” he wrote on X, announcing that his government would establish fast-track courts to deal with examination paper leak cases.
Fast-track courts are special judicial forums established to expedite cases within India’s often slow legal system.
The announcement, however, failed to satisfy protesters, who argued that it did not address demands for political accountability or structural reforms.
“Rather than providing a solution which is convenient for him, he should work toward a solution which is convenient for the nation and set an example,” law student Daksh Bhargava said.
Protesters reject govt response
The Cockroach Janta Party rejected the government’s announcement, saying the demonstrations would continue until Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned.
CJP spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka said it was positive that the prime minister had finally responded after nearly six weeks of protests.
“Perhaps his foreign visits are over, and he has returned to India, which is a good thing,” Press Trust of India quoted Ranka as saying.
VIDEO | Delhi: On PM Modi’s X post, Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) national spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka says, “The first thing is that it is good that after one and a half months of protests, the Prime Minister has finally taken notice. Perhaps his foreign visits are over and he has… pic.twitter.com/IwW7AJ4U86
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 23, 2026
However, he reiterated that the protests would continue until accountability was established.
“We will not leave this place until Dharmendra Pradhan resigns,” Ranka said.
Questioning the government’s proposed measures, he added: “What punishment are you imposing after the paper leak has already taken place? That is not going to solve the problem of paper leaks. The real question is why paper leaks are happening in the first place. That question must be answered.”
In a satirical response consistent with the movement’s style, CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke posted a meme of Pradhan captioned: “Hi, my name is Nothing.”
https://t.co/mo44rK6tNc pic.twitter.com/kEeHWUMouF
— Abhijeet Dipke (@abhijeet_dipke) July 23, 2026
Opposition backs demonstrators
Leader of the opposition Congress party, Rahul Gandhi, also criticised the government’s response.
Responding to Modi’s social media post, Gandhi said it was the prime minister who had caused the greatest damage to the future of India’s youth.
“You allowed and encouraged the total capture and destruction of our education system — and protected every person responsible for it,” Gandhi said.
He repeated his demand that Pradhan be dismissed, urged Modi to apologise to students and called for those responsible for assaulting protesters to be punished.
You are the one who has harmed the future of our youth the most.
You allowed and encouraged the total capture and destruction of our education system – and protected every person responsible for it.
The students’ demands are clear:
1. Sack Dharmendra Pradhan.
2. Apologise to… https://t.co/0MK4wPMNiK— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) July 23, 2026
The protests were triggered by a series of examination irregularities that have shaken confidence in India’s testing system.
Among the most significant incidents was the leak of a medical entrance examination paper that forced more than two million candidates to retake the test.
Another dispute involving the online evaluation of examinations taken by nearly two million high school students further intensified public anger.
With India home to one of the world’s youngest populations, the movement has tapped into wider concerns over unemployment, economic opportunities and governance.
