Jantar Mantar: People from across India send food online to protesting students in Delhi via Swiggy, Zomato | Viral Videos | Today’s news
The Janta cockroach party protest has had support for more than a month. Protesters are demanding resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over NEET irregularities. From the 31st, a new form of solidarity appeared unexpectedly. People across the country started ordering food deliveries for the protesters at Jantar Mantar. Viral videos show piles of food parcels arriving non-stop.
Zomat’s delivery partner arrived on the night of July 20 after scenes of a police crackdown. The order came from Maharashtra-based Anuj Rawat. He asked that all the hungry people be given food there.
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Partner Swiggy separately supplied 25 vegetarian thalis from Greater Kailash. The sender, Anil Yadav, simply wanted to support the protesting students.
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People send food to Jantar Mantar to show solidarity with students protesting against NEET irregularities and support their demands, including the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
Individuals are contributing to the CJP protest by ordering food from delivery services like Swiggy and Zomato and also personally bringing supplies to support the hungry protesters.
Various types of food like vegetarian thalis, pizzas and burgers were delivered to the protesters at Jantar Mantar along with essential medicines and water.
Social media users reacted positively, praising the acts of kindness and solidarity shown by people across India who are using food delivery apps to support the students.
CJP has asked people to stop sending more food or necessities to Jantar Mantar and said the current needs are already met and will be updated if more help is needed.
“Someone named Anil Yadav ordered 25 veg thalis and told me to drop them near the protest venue. They just wanted to help the students. This is my second delivery here,” the delivery partner told HT.
Local supporters also arrived in person with food for the protesters. Usman, 23, from Chawdi Bazar, was moved by the violent videos. He said his neighbors specifically asked him to bring food.
“We saw videos of young girls being beaten. People from our neighborhood asked us to take food away. This is our way of expressing solidarity,” he said.
Read also | Protest against CJP: 6 FIRs filed by Delhi Police; a “larger conspiracy” is being investigated
Shivam from Faridabad came with his elder brother. He criticized the government’s alleged harsh treatment of young protesters.
“We brought food with us. We protested peacefully yesterday. The way the government treated the children will only encourage more resentment,” he told the publication.
Visuals from the site showed pizzas, hamburgers and various other foods. Basic medicines and water bottles were also displayed to the public. These were freely available to anyone who needed help.
The protest continued despite violent clashes during the Sansad Chalo march on Monday. Hundreds again gathered at Jantar Mantar on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Section 163 remains actively enforced. Delhi Police warned people against gathering heavily around the protest site.
Reaction on social networks
Many social media users reacted to the acts of solidarity aimed at the student protest.
“People sitting miles away ordering food through Zomato and Swiggy and asking delivery partners to feed hungry protesters at Jantar Mantar. This is the idea of India,” one user wrote.
“Not just Delhi but all over India. I’m from Hyderabad and sent one too,” wrote one.
“This is because whoever sent food and other supplies to the farmers in protest, the ED raided on the orders of the petty megalomaniacs. This time people chose the smart way,” commented one user.
Read also | CJP protesters were seen cleaning the Jantar Mantar site a day after the police action
“Honorable people from all corners of the country are ordering food to Jantar Mantar through online food delivery and getting it to the students. People will have such love…!” posted by another user.
One user expressed concern, “What if some anti-social elements send poisoned food? What measures has the CJP taken to prevent this?”
However, there is another point of view.
“Nice attempt to cover up ‘funded’ food. Everyone knows who is funding this protest,” one user suggested.
“Lots of lies. This is how you cover for all the few ‘suppliers’ in the group. No normal citizen has the time, money or resources to send food for free. Stop fooling people. We’re not idiots,” another user commented.
“This is funded by Pakistan and should be investigated as soon as possible,” chimed in another.
Meanwhile, the CJP has asked people not to send more food.
To avoid wastage, please do not send additional food or essentials to Jantar Mantar via Swiggy, Zomato & Blinkit. Currently the need is met and we will update in the future if necessary. Thank you so much for sending the food,” it wrote on social media.
