For days, the streets and parks in the center of India’s capital have seen the biggest demonstrations in years as young protesters demand change to a national exam system they say cheats millions of them out of a fair chance.

Protests Turn Violent

Earlier this week, as the mostly Gen-Z protesters tried to bring their demands to the parliament building, they were met with tear gas and police violence. About 150 protesters were taken to hospital with injuries following Monday’s violence.

The protesters are refusing to back down, setting up a continued confrontation with Narendra Modi’s government. Delhi police said 118 of its officers were injured during the ‘violent protests.’ Delhi Police had imposed prohibitory orders ahead of the march and declared it unlawful.

Demands for Change

The protesters are demanding a change to the education system, which they claim has been mired in controversy, including exam paper leaks and technical failures. The exam system has placed a crushing burden on students and financial strain on families investing everything in their children.

Mohammad Taj, who travelled to Delhi from neighboring Haryana state, said the march heading to parliament had been peaceful. ‘But just in a flash, I don’t know what happened, the police started hitting us with batons. Kids, women, old men, they hit everyone,’ he said.

Rahul Gandhi, the leader of India’s main opposition, was briefly detained on Tuesday after he staged a sit-in outside Modi’s residence, calling for his resignation. There appears to be a growing determination among the protesters, who say they will continue to sit in until their demands are met.

Original reporting: KTVZ (Central Oregon) — read the source article.