Cockroach movement protests intensifies as officials engage in talks

The youth-led Cockroach movement marches to India's Parliament,

demanding the resignation of the education minister and

reforms to the examination system following test paper leaks.

Despite police denying permission for the protest, thousands showed up

as the government appeared to open its first talks with movement leaders.

The movement's founder Abhijeet Dipke was "picked up" by police as two other leaders held talks with Health Minister JP Nadda.

Scores of police and protesters clashed, with tear

gas reportedly fire in Jantar Mantar, a designated site for demonstrations

a few kilometres from Parliament Monday.

Students, professionals, and families with young children wave flags and

chant slogans against the education minister and Prime Minister

Narendra Modi, calling for reform after medical school entrance exam

papers were revealed to have been leaked and sold.

Protesters also demand justice for more than a dozen

students who committed suicide after the leak led

exams to be cancelled.

A cockroach party representative confirms in a social media post on X that Health Minister Nada has assured them he will speak internally with the government after the two sides held a 10-minutetalk.