Nadda meets protest leaders; assures to hold internal talks
NEW DELHI, JUL 20 (PTI/AGENCIES): Thousands of protesters converged near Parliament on Monday, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on the opening day of the Monsoon session, triggering clashes with police, traffic disruptions and repeated adjournments in both Houses of Parliament.
Responding to the Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP) “Chalo Sansad” call, students, parents, senior citizens and supporters marched towards Parliament carrying placards, the tricolour and raising slogans such as “Dharmendra Pradhan Istifa Do”, “Bharat Mata Ki Jai”, “Jai Bhim” and “Vande Mataram”. Some participants wore school uniforms while others dressed in cockroach costumes, symbolising the movement.
The agitation also severely disrupted normal life in the national capital. Large parts of central Delhi remained gridlocked for hours as security personnel were deployed in strength.
Police stopped protesters from reaching Parliament, leading to demonstrations at multiple locations across central Delhi. Many protesters staged sit-ins after being halted, while police used batons and teargas to disperse the crowds. According to police sources, more than 50 protesters and police personnel were injured during the clashes. Around 100 people were detained, and 65 medico-legal cases were registered at Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital.
The CJP, which emerged as a movement against alleged examination paper leaks and irregularities, has been protesting at Jantar Mantar since June 20. The campaign gained national attention after activist Sonam Wangchuk began a hunger strike, joined later by several young protesters.
On Monday, authorities dismantled the main protest stage at Jantar Mantar after exactly a month of demonstrations. Three youth activists ended their fast unto death, but hundreds of supporters continued protesting despite intermittent rain. Demonstrations spread to the lanes around Jantar Mantar, Connaught Place’s Central Park and outside nearby Metro stations.
There were also reports of vandalism during the protests. Videos circulating on social media showed stones scattered on roads in Connaught Place and damage to parked vehicles.
The CJP condemned the violence, maintaining that its agitation would continue peacefully.
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke, who had continued the hunger strike after Wangchuk was removed from Jantar Mantar, was detained by police. Dipke and several supporters, including Wangchuk’s wife Gitanjali Angmo, later shifted their sit-in to Kerala House.
In an effort to defuse tensions, a two-member CJP delegation met Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda. According to CJP, Nadda assured the delegation that he would hold internal consultations within the government and requested time to consider the protesters’ demands. (Read more on p-5)
Meanwhile, Wangchuk, who is admitted to Safdarjung Hospital, said he would continue his fast until youth leaders were allowed to meet Members of Parliament or MPs visited him in hospital.
The protests reverberated inside Parliament, where Opposition members repeatedly raised the issue, forcing frequent adjournments in both Houses.
The agitation also severely disrupted normal life in the national capital. Large parts of central Delhi remained gridlocked for hours as security personnel were deployed in strength. Access to several Metro stations near the protest sites was restricted, with station gates temporarily closed as a precaution, leaving many commuters stranded until late in the evening.
Despite the clashes and heightened security, the CJP reiterated that its campaign against alleged examination irregularities would continue until its key demands were addressed.