Police lathicharge on protesters ahead of CJP march to Parliament

A massive clash erupted between security forces and protesters in the national capital on Monday, marking a chaotic start to the Monsoon Session of Parliament. Thousands of supporters belonging to the 'Cockroach Janta Party' (CJP) took to the streets for their planned "Chalo Sansad" march. The demonstrators were demanding the immediate resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged irregularities and paper leaks in the NEET medical entrance examination. To control the swelling crowd and prevent them from marching further, Delhi Police resorted to a lathi-charge, causing widespread panic and stampede-like conditions in the area. As a precautionary measure to maintain law and order, the administration temporarily suspended mobile internet services across several key areas of Central Delhi.

The law enforcement authorities had already denied official permission for the protest march on Sunday, citing the implementation of prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) across the New Delhi district. Public advisories had warned that gatherings of five or more people outside the designated site of Jantar Mantar would face strict legal action. In response to the intensifying stand-off, the top leadership of the CJP issued appeals to the gathering, urging their followers to maintain peace and exercise restraint. Meanwhile, security concerns prompted the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation to completely shut down the entry and exit gates of five major transit hubs, including Rajiv Chowk, Janpath, Patel Chowk, Central Secretariat, and Seva Teerth, leaving thousands of daily commuters stranded.

The political movement traces its origin to May this year, when 30-year-old US-returned activist Abhijeet Dipke founded the Cockroach Janta Party as a satirical digital initiative. The platform rapidly gained momentum, amassing millions of online followers and drawing support from prominent opposition figures. The current on-ground agitation gained substantial public traction after renowned social activist Sonam Wangchuk joined the cause, launching an indefinite hunger strike at Jantar Mantar on June 28. Despite heavy police deployment, barricading, and strict enforcement by the security forces, the participating students and digital activists remain steadfast at the site, refusing to back down until their core demands regarding educational reforms are met.