[ India] Tens of thousands of protesters have defied police orders and descended on Delhi to demand the resignation of India’s education minister in one of the largest anti-government demonstrations in years.
A huge crowd, largely made up of students and gen Z-ers, filled the streets in the heart of India’s capital from early Monday morning shouting anti-government slogans. Hundreds had already camped out overnight.
Delhi police, which are under the control of the central government, had denied permission for the march to take place. A ban was imposed on all public gatherings, roads across the city were barricaded and the internet was shut down in the centre. Attempts by protesters to move towards the parliament building were met with police brutality including the use of batons and teargas.
Its core demand has been the resignation of the education minister, Dharmendra Pradhan, over exam chaos, after this year’s medical entrance exam – where more than 2 million students compete for just 130,000 places – was again leaked to the highest bidder, forcing it to be scrapped and for students to face retaking the gruelling tests. The fiasco has been linked to more than 20 suicides.
Wider frustrations over alleged failures in the education system and a lack of job opportunities for India’s youth have also mobilised support.
Good reasons to be angry.
It’s good to see youth on the move and I congratulate their bravery. I just hope more political engagement will grow from that, and that it bears fruit.
And the same I wish for the US, and the EU
Ditto.
Power to the people.
