Ahead of CJP’s Parliamentary march tomorrow, crowds roll in at Jantar Mantar, police invoke Section 163 | Today’s news
Jantar Mantar, the designated protest site in central Delhi, witnessed a massive turnout on Sunday as thousands gathered a day ahead of the Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP) ‘Chalo Sansad’ march to Parliament demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke called for a night vigil and wife Sonam Wangchuk said the activist would end the hunger strike if political leaders ensure they raise issues of accountability for education in Parliament during the upcoming monsoon session.
Read also | Wangchuk news LIVE: Delhi Police says no permission is sought before parl march
As crowds continued to pour into the CJP’s protest site at Jantar Mantar throughout the day, CJP chief spokesperson Saurav Das claimed that nearly 20,000 people were “around Jantar Mantar” even before the planned mobilization.
“20,000 people are around Jantar Mantar”
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The ‘Chalo Sansad’ march aims to demand the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and address alleged irregularities in public examinations, especially NEET.
Sonam Wangchuk will end his hunger strike if political leaders meet him at Safdarjung Hospital and assure him that the issue of accountability for education will be raised in the upcoming monsoon session of Parliament.
The Delhi Police said they did not grant permission for the CJP’s march and issued prohibitions under Section 163 to prevent unauthorized gatherings and marches.
Those taking part in the unauthorized march could face legal action as police warned that issuing the ban meant that anyone breaching it could be prosecuted under various laws.
Crowds swelled significantly at Jantar Mantar, with nearly 20,000 people gathering as supporters for the ‘Chalo Sansad’ march, indicating strong mobilization ahead of the event.
“20,000 people are in and around Jantar Mantar. And it’s not even July 20. Dharmendra Pradhan – your day of reckoning is here,” Das wrote on X,
The protest also received support from several political leaders and public figures. Actors Shabana Azmi and Prakash Raj visited Jantar Mantar during the day and joined Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra, CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat and AAP leader Manish Sisodia to express solidarity with the agitation.
Sisodia later shared a picture from the 2012 Anna Revolution in which Arvind Kejriwal, Anna Hazare, Kiran Bedi, Kumar Vishwas and others were present. “From 2012 to 2026… Long live the revolution!”, Sisodia wrote.
Addressing his supporters through a video message, Dipke urged them to stay at Jantar Mantar overnight, saying their presence was necessary to ensure the peaceful conduct of the parliamentary march. “Our protest continues. Please come here in large numbers. Stay here overnight. If you don’t come, they will try to end the protest,” he said.
Dipke is on hunger strike after Wangchuk was removed from the protest site early Saturday morning.
“Wangchuk would end his hunger strike on Monday if . . .”
Addressing supporters at Jantar Mantar, Wangchuk’s wife Gitanjali J Angmo said the activist would end his hunger strike on Monday if political leaders visited him at Safdarjung Hospital and assured him that the issue of accountability for education would be raised during the monsoon session of Parliament.
“If the political leaders meet Sonam at the hospital and assure him that they will raise the issue of accountability for education during the Parliament session, they will end their hunger strike tomorrow,” Angmo said.
Earlier in the day, Wangchuk issued a message from Safdarjung Hospital via Angmo, describing Monday’s mobilization as “India’s second freedom movement” and calling for “freedom from injustice” over the alleged paper leaks and “freedom from fear” over what he called “illegal detention”. He appealed to the people to make the parliamentary march a success.
Read also | “Wangchuk will end quickly tomorrow if…”: What wife Gitanjali Angmo said
At the AISA protest site at Jantar Mantar premises, students Neha, Manish and Aameen continued their indefinite fast. Neha claimed that the police tried to remove them three to four times on Sunday, but students and supporters formed a human chain to prevent it.
“Today is the 22nd day of our hunger strike. Police have come to pick us up three to four times since morning. Students and youths present at Jantar Mantar have formed a human chain to protect us,” she said, urging others to join the protest.
The CJP has been protesting at Jantar Mantar since June 20, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged irregularities in the NEET exam, reforms in the examination system and justice for disabled students.
Delhi Police warns of legal action, cites Section 163
The Delhi Police reiterated that they neither received nor granted permission for the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) to march on Parliament. Police warn that anyone taking part in an unauthorized parade could face legal action. Police have already started barricading roads leading to Jantar Mantar in central Delhi.
The statement comes a day before the CJP marches to Parliament on the inaugural day Monsoon session. The march to parliament was also supported by climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, who was taken away from Jantar Mantar during his indefinite hunger strike. Police said the bans under Section 163 of the Act Bharatiya Citizen Security Code (BNSS), the provision which replaced Section 144 CrPC, are currently in force in the entire district of New Delhi.
Under these orders, protest marches, processions, demonstrations and gatherings of five or more persons are prohibited, except at the designated protest site at Jantar Mantar and only after obtaining prior permission from the authorities.
