Opposition leaders slam Centre over police action during CJP protest after clashes

Opposition leaders on Tuesday criticised the Centre over the police action during the protest in the national capital with Shiv Sena UBT MP Sanjay Raut Congress Rajya Sabha MP Pawan Khera and Trinamool Congress TMC MP Mahua Moitra accusing the government of using excessive force against demonstratorsTheir remarks came a day after clashes broke out during the Sansad Chalo march organised by the Cockroach Janta Party CJP which is protesting over the alleged NEETUG 2026 paper leak and demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra PradhanSanjay Raut calls July 20 Coward DayShiv Sena UBT Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut took to X to criticise the police action and shared photographs that he claimed showed security personnel detaining protesters during Mondays demonstration20 July should be declared as Coward Day Jai Hind Raut wrote in his post20 pictwittercomCV0zqQW94jmdash Sanjay Raut rautsanjay61 July 21 2026The post was accompanied by images purportedly showing police personnel taking protesters into custody during the demonstration in DelhiCongress and TMC leaders target governmentCongress Rajya Sabha MP Pawan Khera also criticised the governments handling of the protest alleging that the action against demonstrators reflected injustice towards the countrys youthAdd yesterdays shameful chapter to the long list of injustices inflicted upon the youth of this countrywhen at the behest of those in power the sons and daughters of this nation were subjected to oppression and brutality But those who were beating the countrys youth today on the orders of the powers that be will have to face the stick of the Constitution tomorrowTrinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra also reacted to the police action by sharing a photograph showing a confrontation between police personnel and protestersWorlds largest democracy take that Moitra said in a post on XCJP reiterates demands after meeting with JP NaddaThe Oppositions criticism came amid continuing protests by the CJP over alleged irregularities in the NEETUG 2026 examinationOn Monday a delegation of the party met Union Health Minister and Rajya Sabha Leader of the House JP Nadda and reiterated its demands including the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan compensation of Rs 1 crore to the families of NEET aspirants who allegedly lost their lives and the immediate release of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk who is currently undergoing treatment at Safdarjung HospitalFollowing the meeting CJP chief spokesperson Saurav Das said the protest would continue until Pradhan resignsAccording to the party Nadda informed the delegation that protesters had proposed talks with the government and appealed to them to end their sitin protestProtest turns violent police register FIRsThe Sansad Chalo march later turned violent with clashes reported between protesters and security personnel in parts of central DelhiDelhi Police said more than 118 police personnel sustained injuries during the violence while around 60 protesters were also reported to have been injuredAccording to police protesters allegedly attacked security personnel with stones and other objects attempted to breach barricades vandalised police and government vehicles and damaged public propertyPolice have also registered FIRs against unidentified persons at the Parliament Street and Connaught Place police stations under various provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita BNS The cases relate to allegations of rioting violence vandalism damage to public property obstruction of public servants from performing their duties and the alleged snatching of police equipment including jackets and helmetsOfficials further alleged that unidentified individuals vandalised police vehicles and pelted stones at a police team near Regal Cinema in Connaught Place The investigation into the incidents is ongoingWangchuk remains in hospital as protest continuesSonam Wangchuk who has been on a hunger strike at Jantar Mantar over the alleged NEETUG paper leak and the demand for Dharmendra Pradhans resignation was shifted to Safdarjung Hospital by Delhi Police on July 18Meanwhile CJP leaders have maintained that the agitation will continue while Delhi Police has appealed to protesters to maintain peace and cooperate with law enforcement as investigations into Mondays violence continueWith inputs from ANI