India protest leaders say government seeks time until Saturday on demand for minister's resignation

Talks raise hopes of a breakthrough, but demonstrators say their campaign will go on

Photo: Reuters

Leaders of India's youth-led "cockroach" movement said the government has asked for time until Saturday afternoon to respond on their demand for the education minister's resignation, after talks with two ministers on Friday.

The talks came hours after activist Sonam Wangchuk ended his 26-day hunger strike, raising hopes that the two sides could reach a breakthrough after tens of thousands of angry youth converged in the capital Delhi to demand the minister's resignation over exam paper leaks.