Priyanka Gandhi of the Indian National Congress criticized the Modi government during a Cockroach Janata Party protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi.
The demonstration highlights growing tensions over the NEET exam controversy, where protesters demand the resignation of the Education Minister to address systemic failures in student testing.
Gandhi addressed the crowd, framing the struggle of the students as a national concern. "They're our children," Gandhi said [2]. She used the platform to condemn the administration for policies she said were harming the youth of the country.
The protest, which began on June 20, 2024 [1], has drawn various political figures and activists to the historic site in Delhi. Among those participating is activist Sonam Wangchuk, who has begun an indefinite hunger strike to draw attention to the cause.
Wangchuk spoke on the physical toll of the demonstration and the perceived indifference of the state. "Being forced to sit here in heat, wish govt had shown sensitivity," Wangchuk said [1].
Other figures, including representatives from the NCP and SP, have joined the sit-in. The Cockroach Janata Party continues to call for immediate accountability regarding the exam irregularities that sparked the movement.
“"They're our children,"”
The alignment of high-profile Congress leadership with grassroots activists like Sonam Wangchuk suggests a strategy to consolidate various grievances—ranging from educational irregularities to regional rights—into a broader opposition front against the current administration's governance of public institutions.
