Hyderabad: What began as a student-led movement in Delhi has now spread across continents, with members of the Indian diaspora taking to the streets in solidarity with the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protests. Demonstrations were held in cities including London, Berlin, Dublin, New York, Vancouver and Amsterdam, where protesters demanded the resignation of Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan and accountability over alleged examination irregularities.Most demonstrations were held outside Indian diplomatic missions, including the Indian High Commission in London and the Embassy of India in Dublin. In contrast, others gathered at public landmarks such as Union Square in New York and city squares across Europe. Several protests were organised by student groups and diaspora collectives, including the Student Federation of India-UK (SFI-UK), while others were coordinated informally through social media groups. Hundreds turned up across multiple UK cities, while smaller gatherings took place in Germany, Ireland and the Netherlands.“We didn’t come here to shout slogans for the sake of it. We came because silence would have meant accepting what students back home are going through,” said Hussain L, a chef who joined the protest outside the Indian High Commission in London, where about 1,000 people gathered.In New York, S Ayaan, a student from Hyderabad pursuing an MBA, said distance had not weakened their connection with India. “Our degrees may come from abroad, but our future is tied to India’s education system. Standing here was our way of telling students back home that they are not alone.”A student who attended the Berlin demonstration said the gathering brought together Indians from different walks of life. “It wasn’t just students. Young professionals, researchers and even a few Germans joined us. We wanted to show that this conversation has travelled beyond India’s borders.”Ireland witnessed a gathering of around 40–50 people, comprising students and working professionals. “The response has been mixed. While many appreciated the initiative, some anonymous social media accounts targeted participants with casteist abuse and threats. But the support outweighed the negativity. Many people who couldn’t attend reached out later, asking to be informed if another protest was organised,” said a participant from Dublin.Organisers said there is no central leadership coordinating the overseas demonstrations, but the momentum continues to build.
