Parents Flock to Jantar Mantar to Support Student-Led Protest
A 12-year-old girl from West Bengal kept turning around nervously, ensuring she had not lost sight of her father in the swelling crowd at Jantar Mantar on Saturday morning.
As dawn broke, the protest site transformed into a self-organised community. Students arrived with backpacks, families spread mats on the ground, and new posters were unfurled. By late morning, around 5,000 people had gathered.
Delivery riders were barred by Delhi Police, so food was bulk-ordered from Connaught Place and ferried in by auto-rickshaws throughout the morning.
Though the protest has been led largely by Gen Z, at least 1,000 of those present were from an older generation: parents, professionals, retired personnel, and families who had travelled from across the country. Some came to stand with their children; others to show solidarity with a generation they said had found the courage to question the government.
The gathering remained peaceful, with attendees sitting on mats and engaging in discussions. Organisers emphasised the non-violent nature of the demonstration, which has drawn participants from various states.
