India Holds Fresh Talks With Gen-Z Protesters as 2 Million Exam Retakes Fuel Minister Exit Demand
Updated
Updated · Bangkok Post · Jul 25
India Holds Fresh Talks With Gen-Z Protesters as 2 Million Exam Retakes Fuel Minister Exit Demand
3 articles · Updated · Bangkok Post · Jul 25
Summary
Fresh talks were set for Saturday afternoon after thousands rallied again in central Delhi, pressing for Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation over exam leaks.
More than 2 million candidates were forced to retake medical entrance tests after question papers leaked, turning anger over the exams into a broader youth challenge over jobs, corruption and accountability.
Delhi authorities kept 18 metro stations shut for a fourth day and extended a mobile internet blackout in central areas into its fifth day, even as protesters said the curbs would not weaken turnout.
Friday’s meeting with federal ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh brought no breakthrough, though activist Sonam Wangchuk ended a 26-day hunger strike hours earlier, briefly raising hopes of progress.
The unrest has become the biggest youth challenge to Prime Minister Narendra Modi since 2014 and has already spilled into parliament, where opposition parties disrupted the monsoon session.