Protesters Spend Night at Jantar Mantar as Delhi Police Tightens Security Ahead of Parliament March
New Delhi: The historic Jantar Mantar protest site saw a tense night as the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) continued its demonstration demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The protest follows the leak of question papers for competitive exams, including NEET-UG, which led to cancellations and distress among lakhs of students.
Delhi Police barricaded all approaches to the site overnight, creating multiple layers of barriers to prevent protesters from marching to Parliament on Monday morning. Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi) Sachin Sharma visited the area around 5.30 am to oversee preparations. Heavy force, including Rapid Action Force and Central Reserve Police Force personnel, has been deployed. Police have tear-gas launchers, armored vehicles, and anti-riot gear, and have warned that any attempt to march will be dealt with firmly.
Despite the restrictions, about 3,000 protesters spent the night at the site, with more joining in the morning. Police stated that no permission was granted for the demonstration, and any gathering near Parliament would be unlawful.
In the early hours, around 4.30 am, CJP spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka addressed the crowd from the protest stage. He listed permitted slogans: 'Bharat Mata ki Jai, Inquilab Zindabad, and Dharmendra Pradhan istifa do (resign).' He urged protesters to remain peaceful, noting that the march, set for 8.30 am, should be conducted in the same manner as the peaceful 30-day protest. On the stage with Ranka were CJP founder Abhijit Dipke and actor Prakash Raj.
The protest has seen several developments in recent days. On Saturday, activist Sonam Wangchuk, who was on hunger strike, was taken by police to Safdarjung Hospital for treatment. Dipke subsequently began his own hunger strike.
Among the protesters were students from various states. Three young men from West Bengal, who are NEET aspirants, said they had come to Delhi for the first time to participate. Sudipta, who gave only his first name, said, 'After Wangchuk sir's detention, it became necessary for us to show the government the power of the youth.'
A group of six students from Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh, who are preparing for government jobs, spent the night on a footpath near the enclosure. Shankar Singh, one of them, said they had come fully prepared with blankets. 'The fight is long… We are desperately waiting for the morning,' he added.
The protesters demand accountability for the exam leak, which affected NEET-UG and other competitive tests. They seek the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, holding him responsible for the security lapses that led to the leak. The government has not responded to these demands.
