DELHI METRO SHUTS STATIONS AGAIN
The protests by the CJP began as an online satire and involved only a few hundred young people when they were first launched. But it has grown with the support of millions of online followers, taking the government by surprise.
Tens of thousands of supporters of the movement marched on parliament in violation of a ban on Monday and clashed with police when they pushed them back with tear gas and beat them with canes.
Violence was reported again on Wednesday night when more than 10,000 protesters gathered at the Jantar Mantar protest site in central Delhi.
The movement’s surge in popularity reflects frustrations among young Indians over issues such as job shortages, as well as frequent exam leaks, analysts say and warn that the government should effectively address the crisis.
On Thursday, authorities shut 16 metro stations, mobile internet services and curtailed business in central Delhi where the protesters have been camped – seen as an attempt to curb the demonstrations – inconveniencing thousands of people.
The Delhi Metro Rail Corp said it was shutting down 17 stations again from early on Friday morning until further instructions, the third time this week it has resorted to such a large-scale closure of the system, which is the lifeline of the capital.
The federal Cabinet will meet on Friday and discuss a draft to amend laws to punish culprits behind exam paper leaks and get it approved by parliament at the earliest, Modi said late on Thursday.
But the protesters have rejected the proposal, saying the examination system should be fixed to prevent leaks in the first place.
Activist Wangchuk is also expected to explain details of his talks with two government ministers in whose presence he broke his fast, through a video likely on Friday.
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