India's education minister has lashed out at students demanding his resignation over the mismanagement of the country's biggest entrance exams, calling them a "B-team of terrorists".
Hundreds of students and supporters of the Cockroach Janata Party, a viral protest movement that started as a self-deprecating joke online, have been camping out in New Delhi since Saturday, demanding the resignation of education minister Dharmendra Pradhan and reforms to the country’s education system.
The protest at Jantar Mantar, the capital’s designated demonstration site, has entered its fifth day with protesters continuing to move in and out of the venue and no signs that the sit-in will end any time soon.
The protesters, mostly students, have demanded Mr Pradhan's resignation over the cancellation of the national entrance test for medical students over a high-profile alleged leak, a move that affected 2.3 million aspiring doctors.
Within a matter of weeks, serious flaws were also exposed in the online grading system involving school-leaving exams for millions of students.
Mr Pradhan, who is one of the most senior figures in prime minister Narendra Modi's government, has now finally responded after weeks of criticism.
He appeared to allege that the movement, which began online after the country’s chief justice called some unemployed Indian youths “cockroaches” and now has 22 million followers, was secretly affiliated with the BJP’s political opposition.
He said the protesters where those "who were rejected in the democracy have come in disguise and are now after the system".
"They raise slogans for those who want to divide the country. They have been identified," Mr Pradhan told NDTV, adding that "some people did not have faith in the country’s progress".
Over the past five days, hundreds of medical aspirants, students and supporters of the movement have camped out at Jantar Mantar round the clock, braving the sweltering June heat and occasional bout of dust storms and heavy rain.
Abhijeet Dipke, the founder of the CJP, looked weary as he addressed the gathered protesters on Tuesday, where he accused political thugs of attacking a protester outside the site.
He responded to Mr Pradhan's allegation by saying: "While we are demanding justice for students who committed suicide, he said CJP is a B team of terrorists. The education minister is calling the youth of this country terrorists."
"Sir, we are not terrorists. We don't need a certificate of patriotism from people like you who are responsible for the deaths of innocent students."
In a post shared on X, he added the minister was the one with the "blood of more than 17 students on his hands".
Those comments were a reference to reports that at least 12 prospective students have died by suicide between the cancellation of the medical National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test in May and the retakes on 21 June.
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