Thousands of students, parents and activists are marching to the Indian parliament on Monday, defying police orders on the opening day of the monsoon session, as outrage over a leaked medical entrance exam intensifies.
The protest follows the cancellation of a national medical exam in early May after a paper leak affected nearly 2.28 million candidates. More than 20 students have since died by suicide, according to their families. Demonstrators are demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and sweeping reforms to the examination system.
Activist Sonam Wangchuk, on day 21 of a hunger strike, was forcibly taken to Safdarjung Hospital from Jantar Mantar on July 18, a move a Delhi court ruled was lawful. Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke launched an indefinite hunger strike following Wangchuk's removal, while three student activists from the All India Students' Association continued their own fast at Jantar Mantar. The CJP amassed 22 million Instagram followers within days of its formation in May.