CJP Tells Government: Meet Us at Jantar Mantar as Protest Grows
Thousands of protesters continued to gather at Jantar Mantar in central Delhi on Wednesday, as the protest by a group demanding education reforms and the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan swelled. The group, known as the CJP, has been staging a sit-in since July 20.
CJP chief spokesperson Saurav Das told the media that the police had informed them that Union Minister J.P. Nadda wanted to speak to them. “They invited us to his residence, but we categorically declined. We are not going to anyone’s house or office. A janata darbar is being held here, and if the ministers want to talk, they should come to the people,” he said.
However, he added that if the government was concerned about security at the protest site, CJP representatives were willing to meet at a neutral venue near Jantar Mantar, but they were still waiting to hear back from the government.
The CJP also requested activist Sonam Wangchuk to end his fast. “Your sacrifice has inspired a generation. We respectfully request you to end your fast and take care of your health. We promise that the fight for examination justice will continue with even greater strength until our demands are met,” the CJP said in an open letter to Mr. Wangchuk.
At the protest site, tents that had been removed by security forces on Monday and reassembled by protesters on Tuesday were further strengthened on Wednesday. More posters were hung, calling for Mr. Pradhan's resignation and criticising the Prime Minister. Dozens of young people brought handwritten posters and printouts with slogans against the government.
As the crowd grew, announcements from the main dais urged protesters to maintain peace and to raise only slogans demanding Mr. Pradhan’s resignation, avoiding any abusive language.
Some protesters bore visible injuries from earlier police action. Sachin Rawat, 27, with open wounds on his forehead and arms, said he was injured when police forcibly removed Mr. Wangchuk. “They pushed me and I fell down. I didn’t come after that as I was resting, but I came back today. The system should change. Dharmendra Pradhan ko resign karna padega [Pradhan has to quit],” he said.
At the edge of the protest area, Akhilesh Pratap Singh, 22, and others were distributing sandals to people who had lost or damaged theirs during the march or at the site. “I work as a cashier at a store in a mall, but have taken leave for the last six days. Till the issue is resolved I will be here,” he said, adding that he was also hit twice with lathis on Monday, but still came back. “When I turned 18, I gave my first vote for BJP. But I don’t support them anymore. The education system should get better. Modi has been silent on how the students were beaten up by police. The government should change,” Mr. Singh, who is studying B.Com through distance education, said.
Karan Kumar, 29, who came to the protest site for the first time on Wednesday, said it had become a platform for people to vent their anger. “Government schools and education is bad and we can’t get any government jobs. What is the point of staying in this country then? All these ministers and MLAs... their children are studying abroad only and not here as the system is bad. But if we say anything, we will be called Pakistani. People are frustrated,” Mr. Kumar said.
Around 8 p.m., hundreds of people continued to arrive at the site amid chants of “isteefa dho, isteefa dho [resign]”, revolutionary songs, and drum beats, as the site prepared for another night of protests.
