Cinema VinesIn the wake of a month‑long occupation of Jantar Mantar by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), thousands of demonstrators gathered on Monday to march to Parliament in what the party calls the “Chalo Sansad” protest. The rally, aimed at demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged examination irregularities, met a heavy security presence as the march began on the opening day of the monsoon session.
Youtuber Elvish Yadav, who is neither a BJP nor a Congress supporter, took to X to condemn the violence against students. In his post he wrote, “I’m neither a BJP supporter nor a Congress supporter. But what is happening to the students is completely wrong. The students who came forward with genuine issues should not have been subjected to violence. Their concerns deserve to be heard, and appropriate action should be taken.”
Police officials, however, described the scene as a deliberate breach of prohibitory orders. They claimed that protestors refused to disperse, attacked officers with stones and other objects, tried to break through barricades, vandalised police and government vehicles, and caused widespread damage to public property. According to the statement, more than 118 police officers—ranging from senior ranks such as Special Commissioner of Police to Assistant Commissioner of Police, as well as several women officers—were injured, while about 60 protesters were also reported hurt. Medico‑legal examinations of the injured police are underway.
Security forces detained demonstrators from several locations, including Mandi House, Patel Chowk, Janpath, Jantar Mantar and Parliament Street, in an effort to prevent the march toward Parliament. Tear gas was deployed near Shastri Bhawan after protestors attempted to push through barricades. Later that evening, police dismantled the protest stage and attempted to clear the site, but CJP members vowed to remain on the ground and continue the protest despite the police action.
