20 July,2026 11:04 AM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondent
The protest coincided with the opening day of the Monsoon Session of Parliament, prompting extensive security arrangements across central Delhi. Pic/PTI
Delhi Police on Monday used batons to disperse hundreds of students and youth activists attempting to march from Mandi House Metro Station to Jantar Mantar, where thousands had gathered for the Cockroach Janta Party's (CJP) "Sansad Chalo" protest demanding accountability over alleged irregularities in competitive examinations.
The protest coincided with the opening day of the Monsoon Session of Parliament, prompting extensive security arrangements across central Delhi.
According to eyewitnesses, police used sticks and batons to disperse protesters as they attempted to proceed towards Jantar Mantar.
The march included hundreds of students and youth activists, many of them women, who raised slogans against the Centre while moving towards the protest site.
A large contingent of Delhi Police personnel was deployed in the area to prevent the procession from advancing.
There was no immediate official statement from Delhi Police on the reported use of force or whether any protesters had been detained.
Thousands of protesters gathered at Jantar Mantar despite heavy rain and heightened security measures imposed across central Delhi.
Delhi Police barricaded roads leading to Parliament, sealed the Jantar Mantar protest site from multiple directions and enforced prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS).
Several Delhi Metro stations, including Janpath, Patel Chowk, Rajiv Chowk, Central Secretariat and Seva Teerth, were closed as part of the security arrangements.
Police had earlier clarified that no permission had been granted for the proposed march to Parliament and warned that unauthorised processions would not be allowed.
Despite the restrictions, protesters continued to arrive at Jantar Mantar throughout the morning.
The CJP shared photographs and videos on social media showing large crowds at the protest venue and posted, "Heavy rains and massive security, but nothing will stop the cockroaches today."
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke also shared a photograph of the Constitution with the message, "Long live the Constitution."
The organisation urged supporters to remain peaceful despite movement restrictions and reports of protesters being stopped at different locations.
"Please remain calm wherever you might be. Even if you've been stopped at certain points, remain calm and maintain peace. We will only win this with peace and love," CJP spokesperson Saurav Das said in a message to protesters.
The protest comes as activist Sonam Wangchuk remains admitted to Safdarjung Hospital after being shifted there by Delhi Police during his indefinite hunger strike.
In a handwritten note issued from the hospital, Wangchuk reiterated that he would continue his fast unless the government accepted accountability for alleged failures in the education system, including paper leaks, or political leaders assured him that the issue would be raised during the Monsoon Session of Parliament.
He also repeated his allegation that he was under "illegal detention" at Safdarjung Hospital.
Meanwhile, three All India Students' Association (AISA) activists - Neha, Manish and Aameen - ended their 23-day hunger strike following an appeal by a delegation of parliamentarians, civil society members and other prominent individuals.
The delegation urged the activists to shift their campaign from a hunger strike to parliamentary intervention and broader public outreach, assuring them that their demands would be pursued during the ongoing Monsoon Session.
(With inputs from PTI)
