The protest organized by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) at Delhi's Jantar Mantar has reached its 33rd day, with thousands of demonstrators gathering for the third consecutive night on Tuesday. The crowd included many individuals who were victims of police action, including lathi charges and tear gas shells, during the 'Chalo Sansad' march held on July 20. The atmosphere at Jantar Mantar remains tense yet determined as the protesters continue to voice their grievances against the administration.
Release of Detained Supporters and End of Police HQ Protest
The Cockroach Janta Party announced late Tuesday night via the social media platform X that all protesters detained during the Parliament march on July 20 have been released. Following this development, the party decided to end the sit-in protest that was being carried out outside the Delhi Police Headquarters. CJP founder Abhijit Dipke made a firm statement regarding the future course of action, asserting that the party would no longer approach the government for talks. He stated that if the government wishes to engage in a dialogue, its representatives must come to Jantar Mantar to meet the protesters.
Allegations of House Arrest and Government Neglect
CJP spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka shared details about the interaction with the government on July 20. He alleged that when the government called them for talks during the Parliament march, they were made to wait for 4 hours. Ranka claimed that he and Sourav Das weren't allowed to use their phones for 2 hours and were prevented from leaving the premises. He described the experience as feeling like they were under house arrest. This was the first time the government had engaged with the CJP since the march began. During the 10 minute meeting with Union Minister JP Nadda, the CJP presented three primary demands: the release of Sonam Wangchuk from the hospital, the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, and a compensation of 1 crore rupees for the families of NEET students who committed suicide.
Severe Injuries and Medical Updates
The human cost of the protest has been significant. AISA activist Danish reported that Irshad, a resident of Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, who works in Delhi, suffered serious pellet injuries. Doctors have expressed concerns that he may suffer permanent damage to his eye. Another protester, 21 year old Sakshi, an indigenous student originally from Jharkhand living in Uttam Nagar, is currently fighting for her life on a ventilator at Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital. She was severely injured during the police action on July 20. Meanwhile, Sonam Wangchuk, who has been on a hunger strike since June 28, was shifted from Safdarjung Hospital to Medanta Hospital in Gurugram following directions from the Delhi High Court. Sources indicate that Union Ministers JP Nadda and Dr. Jitendra Singh visited Wangchuk at Medanta late Tuesday night.
Increased Security and Barricading
In response to the ongoing demonstrations, security has been further tightened around the Parliament House in Delhi. Heavy barricading was observed on several major roads, including Rafi Marg, on Tuesday night. The Delhi Police has deployed additional forces in the area to maintain law and order and manage the crowd of thousands that continues to occupy Jantar Mantar.