Indian students' protest echoes globally as diaspora rallies from London to New York

A student-led movement that began with protests against NEET examination paper leaks and has since evolved into a wider campaign demanding accountability from the government is finding resonance far beyond India's borders, with members of the Indian diaspora organising solidarity demonstrations across cities in Europe, North America and Oceania.

Also Read: Cockroach Janta Party calls for nationwide protest on Friday over alleged police brutality

As the indefinite sit-in at Delhi's Jantar Mantar entered another week and protests intensified following a police crackdown on demonstrators marching to Parliament, students and professionals overseas gathered in London, Edinburgh, Berlin, Dublin, Vancouver, Toronto and New York to express support for protesters back home and demand reforms in India's education system.

London emerges as the biggest hub of solidarity

The largest overseas mobilisation was witnessed in London, where hundreds assembled at Trafalgar Square after the Students' Federation of India (SFI) UK called for a solidarity protest. Videos circulating on social media showed participants singing the national anthem, raising slogans demanding Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation and carrying placards backing students protesting in India.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Chavi Agarwal | Honest London Life (@nine2fivelife)

SFI also organised demonstrations in Edinburgh, where protesters raised slogans seeking Pradhan's resignation. Separate solidarity gatherings were also held in Glasgow and Manchester.

One video inviting people to the London protest urged participants to "stand in solidarity with Indian students" and oppose the police crackdown on demonstrators in Delhi.

From Berlin to Dublin, protesters demand education reforms

In Berlin, members of the Indian diaspora assembled at the Brandenburg Gate, where videos shared online showed demonstrators singing Saari Umar Hum Mar Mar Ke Jee Liye from the Bollywood film 3 Idiots—a song that has become closely associated with conversations around the pressures of India's education system. Footage shared by social media accounts, including theregoespayal, showed protesters holding placards and chanting in support of students in India.

In Dublin, demonstrators assembled outside the Indian Embassy, saying they stood in solidarity with students demanding "accountability, transparency and meaningful reforms" in India's education system.

Also Read: CJP protest: 'Passports will be cancelled for people involved directly in riots,' says Delhi Police source

"Education should be built on fairness, merit and opportunity—not uncertainty. Students deserve a system that is transparent, equitable and accountable to the people it serves," one social media post from the organisers said.

North America backs protesters in India

Across the Atlantic, demonstrations were organised in Vancouver and Toronto, where Indian students and professionals said they were standing with those protesting in Delhi.

Addressing protesters in Vancouver, one speaker said: "To all my fellow countrymen who will take the march down to Parliament from Jantar Mantar, we, the Indian community of Vancouver, are watching you as you stand strong and reclaim our democracy back. We are watching you as you try to hold the people in power accountable."

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Payal (@theregoespayal)

In Toronto, protesters gathered at Eaton Centre carrying placards demanding accountability, the resignation of the education minister and greater transparency in the education system.

The movement also reached the United States, where hundreds gathered near the Gandhi statue at Union Square in New York. Videos from the protest showed participants describing the Delhi demonstrations as part of a broader struggle for democratic rights.

One speaker told the gathering: "My fellow Indians, we cannot join you in person today. Know that you are not alone."

Another participant said it was "refreshing to see Indians in the diaspora coming through for their people back home" and argued that overseas communities had a responsibility to amplify the voices of students protesting in India.

Calls to 'Educate, Agitate and Organise'

The overseas demonstrations have also drawn support from academics, writers and activists.

Author Yashica Dutt invoked B.R. Ambedkar's famous call to "Educate, Agitate and Organise", a slogan that has featured prominently at several solidarity protests.

The demonstrations come as student groups in India continue to press for Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation over repeated examination paper leaks. What began as an online satirical campaign under the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) banner has evolved into a broader youth movement, with an indefinite hunger strike and large-scale street protests drawing national attention.

Police used tear gas and lathicharged protesters attempting to march to Parliament earlier this week, detaining several demonstrators. The crackdown has become a rallying point for Indians overseas, who say distance has not diminished their resolve to support students demanding greater transparency, accountability and reforms in India's education system.