The Cockroach Janta Party's (CJP) protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar entered another day on Tuesday, with founder Abhijeet Dipke continuing his sit-in protest and supporters remaining at the demonstration site a day after clashes erupted during the "Sansad Chalo" march towards Parliament.
The protest, demanding Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation over irregularities in NEET examination, continued amid heightened security across the national capital. Delhi Police has registered FIRs over Monday's violence and stepped up deployment in sensitive areas, while activist Sonam Wangchuk remains under medical supervision at Safdarjung Hospital.
Abhijeet Dipke continues sit-in protest at Jantar Mantar
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke is continuing his sit-in protest at Jantar Mantar after taking over the agitation following Sonam Wangchuk's removal to Safdarjung Hospital.
In a post on X on Tuesday, Dipke apologised to protesters who were allegedly injured during Monday's clashes.
"I apologise to all our supporters, especially the girls who were brutally beaten by male police officers. We could have done better. I could have done better to protect you from the inhumane actions of the Delhi Police."
He further alleged that the government was "willing to spill the blood of many more young students" to protect Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and appealed to injured protesters to contact him.
"If you were injured and see this, please DM me. I want to speak to you personally and apologise. We will keep fighting for all of you."
Cockroach Janta Party chief says no parliament march today
CJP founder Dipke said the party will continue its protest but will not march again after reports of protestors getting injured in clashes with Delhi Police who tried to stop the supporters' march to India's Parliament.
"We had to call off the protest yesterday because we did not want more youth to be injured," he told a press conference.
"We will not march again because the police will hurt the youth again," Dipke said. More than 150 protesters are under treatment in hospital, the CJP founder said.
Also read: Abhijeet Dipke says no march now as police will hurt youth again
Dipke alleges police brutality during Parliament march
Speaking to ANI from the protest site, Dipke accused Delhi Police of using excessive force against protesters during Monday's march.
"Today, the Police staged lathi charge in the morning. They have filled their hearts with blood," he alleged.
Dipke also questioned the continued hospitalisation of Sonam Wangchuk, claiming the activist was being "illegally detained" despite continuing his hunger strike.
He further alleged that women protesters were assaulted during the demonstration and questioned the police over additional barricading near the protest venue.
Ashutosh Ranka: Protest will continue until Dharmendra Pradhan resigns
CJP national spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka alleged that protesters were subjected to excessive force during Monday's march and said the agitation would intensify.
"It was just the Police who used lathis. Our youths were beaten up, their heads cracked open, they were dragged on streets. Sonam sir's wife Gitanjali ma'am's hair was pulled... Ribs of one of our volunteers was shattered. We had never expected or seen such brutality. Delhi Police crossed all limits yesterday," he told ANI.
He alleged that police personnel had acted on instructions and said the protest would continue.
"We will not move from here until Dharmendra Pradhan resigns."
Referring to Monday's meeting with the government, Ranka claimed no breakthrough had been achieved.
"We did not receive any response. Five hours were wasted. If the Government wants to talk to us, they will now have to come here."
Sonam Wangchuk health update: Vital parameters stable, hunger strike continues
Safdarjung Hospital said on Tuesday morning that Wangchuk's vital parameters remain stable, although his blood sugar continues to remain low and laboratory investigations indicate persistent abnormalities requiring close monitoring.
According to the hospital's medical bulletin, Wangchuk continues to refuse intravenous fluids and glucose despite repeated medical advice and is currently receiving oral rehydration solution and potassium supplementation.
In a statement issued on Monday, Wangchuk said he would continue his indefinite hunger strike until youth leaders are allowed to meet Members of Parliament or he is permitted to do so from the hospital.
Delhi Police registers FIR over Connaught Place violence
Delhi Police has registered multiple FIRs against unidentified persons in connection with alleged violence, stone-pelting and vandalism reported during Monday's protest near Connaught Place and Parliament Street.
According to police sources cited by PTI, cases have been registered under various provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including rioting, damage to public property, obstruction of public servants and snatching of police gear.
Police said CCTV footage, video recordings and other electronic evidence are being examined to identify those involved.
Security has also been tightened across several parts of Delhi, with multi-layered barricading, enhanced vehicle checks and additional deployment of police and paramilitary personnel.
Also read: CJP protest in Delhi: Police files complaint over alleged violence and vandalism of vehicles
What happened during CJP protests in Delhi?
Thousands of protesters gathered near Parliament on Monday during the CJP's "Sansad Chalo" march, demanding Pradha's resignation.
As protesters attempted to move towards Parliament, Delhi Police used tear gas and lathi-charge to disperse the crowd after demonstrators allegedly tried to breach barricades.
CJP alleged that several students were injured during the police action and accused security personnel of using excessive force.
Police, however, alleged that protesters attacked security personnel, damaged police vehicles and resorted to stone-pelting near Connaught Place.
According to Delhi Police, more than 118 police personnel were injured during the violence, while CJP claimed around 60 protesters suffered injuries.
Delhi Police rejects assault allegations
Delhi Police has rejected allegations circulating on social media that women protesters and a 12-year-old girl were assaulted during Monday's protest.
In a statement, police said claims that an individual named Geetanjali, a 12-year-old girl, had her hair pulled, suffered a head injury and that several others sustained serious injuries were "false".
"False information is being currently circulated on social media... The claims being circulated in the posts are not true. Please do not spread or amplify false or misleading information," Delhi Police said.
Earlier, police had also denied allegations that Sonam Wangchuk's wife Gitanjali Angmo was assaulted during the protest.
Vandalism and stone-pelting under investigation
Police said miscreants vandalised police vehicles and pelted stones at security personnel near Regal Cinema in Connaught Place during Monday's protest.
Authorities said legal action would be taken against those found responsible for vandalism, assault on police personnel and damage to public property.
The investigation is underway.
JP Nadda-CJP meeting ends without breakthrough
A two-member CJP delegation met Union Health Minister J P Nadda on Monday in an attempt to resolve the impasse.
While Nadda said the talks were held in a cordial atmosphere and urged protesters to cooperate with authorities, CJP leaders claimed the meeting yielded no concrete outcome.
Ashutosh Ranka alleged the delegation spent nearly five hours in discussions without receiving any assurances from the government.
Following a meeting with the Cockroach Janata Party delegation, Nadda on Tuesday said that the talks went off "fine".
He gave a brief answer regarding the meeting as he arrived for the NDA Parliamentary Party Meeting, 'Mangal Milan', stating, "It was fine, it is always fine".
Why are CJP protesters demanding Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation?
The CJP has been protesting since June 20 over alleged irregularities in competitive examinations, including the NEET paper leak controversy.
The organisation has demanded:
- Resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan
- Accountability for alleged examination irregularities
- Release of Sonam Wangchuk
- Compensation for families of NEET aspirants who allegedly died by suicide
The protest gathered national attention after Wangchuk joined the hunger strike and thousands of students participated in Monday's "Sansad Chalo" march.
CJP protests spread beyond Delhi
Support demonstrations were held across Maharashtra on Monday, including in Mumbai, Nagpur, Pune, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Navi Mumbai and Latur.
Students, opposition leaders and civil society groups staged protests demanding Pradhan's resignation and criticised the police action against demonstrators in Delhi.
