Hundreds of students and young activists gathered under heavy police presence, banging steel plates and spoons while carrying placards criticizing the government’s handling of public examinations. Security forces deployed additional personnel, surveillance cameras and drones to monitor the demonstration.

The protest centered on the alleged leak of question papers for a nationwide medical entrance examination last month through the messaging platform Telegram. Authorities subsequently postponed the examination, temporarily blocked access to Telegram in India and launched an investigation. The exam has been rescheduled for Sunday.

The utensil-banging demonstration appeared to mock Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 2020 appeal for Indians to applaud frontline health workers during the COVID-19 pandemic by striking pots and pans from balconies and rooftops.

Abhijeet Dipke, founder of the Cockroach Janta Party and a political communications strategist studying at Boston University, urged supporters through social media to bring plates and spoons to the protest. Addressing the gathering, Dipke called for Pradhan’s resignation and said the movement was willing to engage in dialogue with the government if the minister stepped down.

“This is just the beginning,” protester Deepak Kumar said. “If Dharmendra Pradhan doesn’t resign or if no action is taken regarding this issue, this protest will not end here.”

Students at the demonstration expressed frustration over recurring allegations of examination leaks and concerns about fairness in competitive recruitment and admission processes.

“We study in poverty, live in poverty for years, and after that our exam papers get leaked,” said student Vicky Kumar. “Will I not get angry at this?”

The Cockroach Janta Party emerged in May after comments by Supreme Court Judge Surya Kant comparing some unemployed young people to “cockroaches” sparked criticism online. Supporters adopted the term as a symbol of resilience and transformed it into a political movement that has gained significant traction on social media.

According to organizers, the movement has attracted more than 22 million followers on Instagram. Initially focused on youth unemployment, it has broadened its agenda to include concerns about rising living costs, governance and public accountability.

The movement’s rapid growth reflects mounting frustration among sections of India’s youth over employment opportunities and institutional transparency. Its blend of satire, internet culture and political messaging has helped it gain visibility, particularly among younger voters and students.

The government has said the examination leak is under investigation. Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has not publicly responded to Saturday’s protest.

The government-directed suspension took effect on Tuesday and is scheduled to remain in force until June 22. Authorities said the measure was intended to prevent the circulation of leaked examination material and curb malpractice among candidates seeking admission to medical colleges.

According to the report, Telegram has approached the court seeking relief from the temporary restrictions, arguing against the government’s action. Details of the petition and the grounds on which it was filed were not immediately available.

Telegram did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

The dispute comes amid heightened scrutiny of examination security in India following allegations of widespread irregularities in competitive entrance tests.

Last month, the Indian government canceled a major undergraduate medical entrance examination after investigators began probing claims that question papers had been leaked before the test. The controversy triggered public concern over the integrity of one of the country’s most important academic selection processes.

The temporary restriction on Telegram reflects growing efforts by authorities to prevent digital platforms from being used to disseminate examination materials illegally. Messaging applications have increasingly come under regulatory attention in India as officials seek to combat online fraud, misinformation and unlawful content distribution.

The outcome of Telegram’s legal challenge could be closely watched by technology companies, legal experts and policymakers, as it may influence the balance between government enforcement measures and the operation of digital communication platforms in India.

The court has not yet publicly announced a timeline for hearing the matter.