Police clear Jantar Mantar as CJP alleges brutal lathicharge on unarmed protesters; stone-pelting reported near Connaught Place
Rahul Gandhi calls PM Modi “anti-youth” as Wangchuk refuses to end fast despite tear gas and baton charges during Parliament march
By NewsArc Bureau | New Delhi
The Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP) march from Jantar Mantar to Parliament turned violent on Monday, with clashes between protesters and police breaking out repeatedly through a demonstration that ran from 8 am to 5 pm. More than 50 police personnel were injured, according to police sources, while multiple protesters also sustained injuries in the unrest.
BARRICADES BROKEN, TEAR GAS FIRED
The march began peacefully at 8 am but escalated by 10 am when demonstrators broke through barricades and pushed toward Parliament, moving via Sansad Marg, Janpath crossing, the War Memorial, Kartavya Path and Vijay Chowk. As protesters neared the building and attempted to breach security, authorities tightened security around Parliament, shut the main gate, and fired tear gas shells to disperse the crowd. Visuals of stone-pelting near Connaught Place surfaced later in the evening.
CJP alleged that police baton-charged and fired tear gas at unarmed demonstrators, releasing photographs of injured protesters as evidence. Police eventually cleared Jantar Mantar by 5 pm using the Rapid Action Force.
NADDA MEETS CJP DELEGATION
Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda held talks with a CJP delegation during the day and assured them no punitive action would be taken. The delegation placed three demands before him: the immediate release of Sonam Wangchuk, the resignation or removal of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, and compensation of ₹1 crore each for the families of over 20 NEET aspirants alleged to have died by suicide. Separately, Pradhan held an extended meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, though the agenda was not disclosed.
DEEPKE ENDS FAST, WANGCHUK REFUSES
CJP founder Abhijeet Deepke broke his fast on Monday, along with three other students who had been on hunger strike for 22 days. Sonam Wangchuk, however, refused to end his fast, accusing police of “barbaric” conduct during what he described as a peaceful protest.
In a handwritten note shared from Safdarjung Hospital, Wangchuk said he would continue his fast until young leaders were permitted to meet MPs inside Parliament, or he himself was allowed to meet lawmakers at the hospital. He said he hoped the government would fix accountability on the education minister before any such meeting, and appealed to the government and police to let students place their grievances before Parliament within a day or two, expressing confidence protesters would maintain the same restraint shown through the day.
DELHI HIGH COURT SEEKS HEALTH REPORT
The Delhi High Court heard a petition filed by Wangchuk’s wife, Geetanjali Angmo, and directed authorities to submit his health report. The matter has been listed for further hearing on Tuesday, July 21.
RAHUL GANDHI ATTACKS MODI GOVERNMENT
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi weighed in on the protests, describing Prime Minister Modi as among the most anti-youth leaders in the country’s history for failing to remove an education minister over the paper leak crisis, which he said had affected over 7.5 crore students across 152 leaks. He said no one responsible had been punished, while students raising legitimate concerns were met with batons and detention.
PROTESTERS RETURN TO JANTAR MANTAR
Despite the crackdown, CJP said its core leaders — Deepke, Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka and Geetanjali Angmo — continued their sit-in from outside Kerala House later in the evening, urging Delhiites to join them and calling it a “now or never” moment for Pradhan’s resignation. Visuals later showed protesters returning to Jantar Mantar, singing the national anthem, with several women seen in tears.
Delhi Police, meanwhile, appealed to protesters to stay away from violence and urged the public not to believe or spread rumours circulating on social media.
