Delhi Sees Chaos as Police Clash With CJP Supporters Ahead of ‘Chalo Sansad’ March Over NEET Row
New Delhi, July 20: Tension gripped the national capital on Monday morning after clashes broke out between Delhi Police and supporters of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), who had gathered for the party’s proposed “Chalo Sansad” march on the opening day of Parliament’s Monsoon Session.
Thousands of protesters assembled to raise their voices against the alleged irregularities in the NEET medical entrance examination and demand sweeping reforms in the country’s education system. Demonstrators were also seeking the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the controversy.
As the crowd attempted to move towards Parliament, Delhi Police intervened to stop the march. The situation soon escalated, with police using lathi-charge to disperse protesters after they allegedly violated prohibitory orders imposed across central Delhi. The confrontation led to scenes of chaos, with videos of the incident quickly circulating across social media.
Despite the tense situation, the Cockroach Janta Party urged its supporters not to retaliate. In a public appeal, the party asked protesters to remain peaceful even if they were stopped by the authorities.
“Even if you’ve been stopped at certain points, remain calm and maintain peace. We will only win this with peace and love,” the party said in its message to supporters.
The Delhi Police had already denied permission for the march a day earlier, citing security concerns. Authorities had imposed restrictions under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), banning protests, demonstrations and gatherings of five or more people across New Delhi district, except at the designated protest site at Jantar Mantar with prior approval.
In an advisory posted on social media, the police clarified that no permission had been granted for the proposed Parliament march and warned that anyone participating in unauthorised gatherings could face legal action. Citizens were urged to cooperate with law enforcement and help maintain public peace and security.
As a precautionary measure, five key Delhi Metro stations—Rajiv Chowk, Janpath, Patel Chowk, Central Secretariat and Seva Teerth—were temporarily closed until further notice to manage security around the protest areas.
The ongoing agitation has brought significant attention to the recently formed Cockroach Janta Party. Launched in May by Abhijeet Dipke as a satirical digital movement following controversy over remarks made by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, the party rapidly gained popularity on social media, attracting millions of followers as well as support from activists, opposition leaders, artists and public figures.
Dipke, who had been living in the United States for the past two years, returned to India in June to lead the campaign demanding greater transparency and accountability in the country’s education system, particularly after allegations of examination paper leaks and irregularities in competitive exams.
The movement gained further momentum when renowned environmentalist and education reform activist Sonam Wangchuk joined the protest. Wangchuk began an indefinite hunger strike at Jantar Mantar on June 28, calling for government accountability over alleged failures in the examination process.
However, after nearly three weeks of fasting, Wangchuk was shifted to a government hospital by the police due to concerns over his deteriorating health. In a handwritten note issued from the hospital on Monday, he reiterated that he would end his fast only if the government accepted responsibility for the alleged paper leaks and systemic failures in the education sector or if Members of Parliament from different political parties assured him they would raise the issue inside Parliament.
The protest has now emerged as one of the biggest demonstrations centred around education reforms in recent months, with both the government and opposition expected to face mounting pressure as the Monsoon Session of Parliament begins.
News source: Information for this article was gathered from a variety of reliable news outlets.
