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India protest leaders to meet govt after Modi vows action / Photo: Sajjad HUSSAIN - AFP
India protest leaders to meet govt after Modi vows action
Leaders of India's youth-led "Cockroach" movement said they would meet the government on Friday after Prime Minister Narendra Modi pledged legal reforms and swift punishment for those involved in exam paper leaks.
Public frustration has mounted following a series of exam irregularities, including the leak of a medical entrance examination paper and problems with an online marking system for high school students.
The social media-driven Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has led protests calling on Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to quit over the failures.
"We hope that the government comes with an open mind and it will listen to the people of this country who have been out on the roads for so long," CJP spokesman Saurav Das told reporters.
"We will explain our demands to them in detail. And we hope that the government will listen to us."
In a late-night social media post, Modi said his cabinet would discuss measures on Friday to speed up court proceedings against those involved in examination leaks.
After "incorporating the suggestions of my cabinet colleagues", draft legislation would be given "its final shape", he said.
"We will make every effort to have the bill introduced and passed by the House at the earliest," Modi added.
- Hunger strike -
The prime minister's intervention followed mounting pressure from protesters and civil society groups demanding education reform.
Prominent activist Sonam Wangchuk, who ended a 26-day hunger strike in support of the movement late Thursday, said the government had assured him that no action would be taken against peaceful demonstrators.
"They also assured us that parliament would hold a full debate on the issue and on improving accountability in the education and examination system," he said on social media.
The protests escalated on Monday when police fired tear gas and used batons against tens of thousands of demonstrators in New Delhi, the capital's largest street rally in five years.
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke welcomed Wangchuk's decision to end his hunger strike but said the movement would press ahead with its campaign until the education minister resigns.
"By putting your own life on the line, you awakened the conscience of an entire nation," Dipke, 30, said in a social media post.
The protests have emerged as one of the biggest political challenges facing Modi since he secured a third term in office in 2024.
J.Simon--PS
