Is Cockroach Janata Party Still Protesting? Key Developments After the Sansad Chalo March

[00:00:00]After facing tear gas, lathi charges and mass attentions during their march towards Parliament, a significant section of the students did not disappear hours later. They returned to Delhi's Jantar Mantar, reclaimed the protest site and rebuilt the stage that had been dismantled by the police. The Citan Protest Started by the Cockroach Janata Party Has Now Entered Its 24th Day and Educated and Climate Activist Sonam Wangchuk Is Still on a Hunger Strike. BJP founder Abhijit Deepak says the movement will continue and protesters are still waiting for the government to respond to their demands.

[00:00:30]On July 20th, the Cockroach Janata Party Sansad Chalo March brought tens of thousands of students, parents, young professionals and even ordinary citizens onto the streets of Central Delhi, demanding accountability from the government for repeated failures and growing irregularities in India's education system, including the recent NEET UG 2026 paper leak and the CBSE OSM controversy. The central demand was the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The rally began with an estimated crowd of around 12,000 people, but reports suggest it grew to near 50,000 through the day. 6 feet tall police barricades were placed at multiple points from Gole Dakkhana to Jantar Mantar to areas near India Gate. Preventing the Protesters from Reaching Parliament.

[00:01:13]The crackdown also took place amid internet shutdowns in the New Delhi district. Making Communication and Coordination More Difficult for Protesters and Journalists [Music] a like.

[00:01:21]As the crowd attempted to move forward, police used steer gas and batons. Protesters were defeated, the gathering was dispersed, and the stage of Jantar Mantar was dismantled. But reports from the ground have raised serious allegations about the force used against students. Nail officers were seen using force on girls and women. And a 12-year-old girl was illegally hit on the head by a cop. Some Police, RF & CRPF personnel were even seen without any name tags. Others dress in civilian clothes with their faces covered. There were also allegations that pellet guns and teasers were used and that protesters were given electric shocks and that stones were thrown at them by security personnel. Also, the Delhi Police have denied these allegations, all these claims need to be seriously addressed by the administration because when young people protesting over failures in the education system are met with this level of force. The government cannot simply dismiss it as routine crowd control. By around 5:30 p.m. More than 100 injured people had reportedly been treated by emergency teams at the RML Hospital. This included around 90 protesters and 10 [music] police personnel. Several others were taken to Lady Hard Hospital after RML's emergency department reportedly became overwhelmed. Delhi Police letter said more than 118 police personnel including senior officers were injured. It also said around 60 protesters suffered injuries, [music] taking the total police reported figure to more than 170. The police have accused the protesters of aggressive and violent behaviour. According to the statement, protesters threw stones and other objects, attacked personnel, broke barricades and damaged government properties. The police also claim that around 15 to 20 government vehicles were vandalized and that about 70 protesters were detailed. Five FIRs have now been registered against unidentified people at Parliament Street, Barakhamba and Connaught Place police stations. The cases included allegations of writs, damaging government and private property, and assaulting public servants on duty. Police are examining CCTV footage including visuals from cameras equipped with facial recognition technology. They are also reviewing social media posts and mobile phone recordings to identify those allegedly involved. They are also examining whether this student-led peaceful protest was part of a larger conspiracy to disturb peace in the city. But there is another question that cannot be ignorant. With this investigation examining only the protesters, will it also take accountability and action against the police personnel, including those who were evidently operating without name tax or with their faces covered. CJP Founder Abhijit Deepak Has Now Said That He Will Not Attempt Another March Towards [Music] Parliament Because He Fears That The Police Will Hurt Young Protesters Again. But he has also said that the protest will continue. Deepak further accuses the government of being willing to spill the blood of young students to protect Dharmendra Pradhan. The BJP has also renewed its demand for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's resignation, accusing the government of arrogance and claiming that it has shamed itself through its handling of the protests. Meanwhile, BJP spokespersons Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka met senior BJP leader JP Nadda at his residence after calls by the government for talks on the day of the protest. Nadda's letter described the talks as cordial and said that the meeting went well. He also claimed that the proposal for discussion came from the protesters for the first time that morning. And the talks began at around 11:50 am and the delegation submitted a written petition at approximately 4:00 pm. However, CJP leaders head something contrary to say.

[00:04:34]Priyanka claims that the entire meeting felt like a waste of time and that they were made to wait for 4 hours without any clear commitment [music] on fixing accountability or accepting the demand for Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation. But the CJP is still awaiting a formal government response. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal also questioned the government's claim that the proposal for talks came only on July 20th. He asked whether the government was waiting to use tear gas and batons on the students when the demands of those fasting had already been publicly known. And while the protesters have reclaimed Jantar Mantar, Sonam Wangchuk remains on an indefinite hunger strike inside Saptajang Hospital. In a handwritten statement, Wangchuk said the police action against the peacefully protesting youth had convinced him to continue fasting. He said, he would not and his fast until the youth leaders were allowed to meet parliamentarians at Parliament or until parliamentarians were permitted to meet him at the hospital. He also expressed hope that the government would fix accountability for the Education Minister before that happened. Meanwhile hearing a play file by Wangchuk's wife Geetanjali Ango More seeking to move him from Sapta Jung Hospital to Medanta Hospital. Chief Justice DK Upadhyay said the court proposed to shift Wangchuk to the hospital of his choice. However, the court also indicated that even after being shifted, Wangchuk may not be discharged without any medical advice. A petition alleging excessive use of force by Delhi Police was also mentioned before the Delhi High Court. But Chief Justice Upadhyay conveniently dismissed it by saying do not track the court into all of this. The petition had been filed after reports of lathi charges, tear gas and injuries during the Sansad Chalo march. Now for Students Seeking Urgent Scrutiny of the Police Action That Response Is Likely to Deepen the Feeling That Every Institution Is Asking Them to Wait [Music] Even as Their Injuries and Concerns Remain Unresolved. The protesters are now back at the site that was dismantled and Deepke says the movement will continue. Sonam Manchuk is still refusing to end his hunger strike and the government is yet to give a clear answer. The question now is whether the Centre will finally address its failures that brought the students onto the streets or continue responding to an education crisis with barricades, tear gas, FIRs and police force. Let us know what you think in the comments below and subscribe to the Free Press Journal.

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