Thousands brave rain and regroup at CJP protest site, day after police crackdown
Thousands of people regrouped in the rain at the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest site at Jantar Mantar in the heart of Delhi on Tuesday (July 21, 2026) afternoon after security forces all but cleared the area the previous day. Although security forces demolished tents and parts of the main stage on Monday (July 20, 2026) evening, several hundred people regrouped at the main protest site late on Monday (July 20, 2026).
From only about 200-300 people on Tuesday (July 21, 2026) early in the morning, the crowd swelled to thousands during the day by evening. Hundreds more gathered outside two entrances to the protest site and waited to enter, leaving lines of people trying to enter and many leaving the site.
The main stage and other tents were also being set up by people after they were partially and some completely demolished by security personnel on Monday (July 20, 2026) evening.
Amid chanting by groups of people demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and attacking Prime Minister Modi, people distributed food, water, crackers and medicine.
More than announcements from the main slides, the protest was kept alive by the crowd, which was divided into smaller groups singing revolutionary songs, promoting slogans or playing musical instruments.
“Terrified but not gone”
Rajesh Sahu, 38, from Begusarai in Bihar, who was at the protest site for the past three days, said he faced lathicharge during the Parliament march and also at the Jantar Mantar protest site later on Monday (July 20, 2026) evening.
“Yesterday around 4.30 pm we left the protest site as there was a lathicharge. Then we roamed around the surrounding areas and later went to Bangla Sahib Gurdwara. There were about 100 protesters there. Later around 2 am 20 of us returned to the protest site and slept here,” he said while distributing crackers.
During the night itself, people began to rearrange the tents and the main stage, Mr. Sahu said, under a rickety tent made of blue tarpaulin that had many holes.
Pushpa Kumari, 35, who works in a private company in Noida, said she had been at the protest site for the past four days. “In the morning there were only about 200 people and there were a lot of security personnel. They threatened us to leave. We thought we would not survive the lathicharge because there were a lot of security personnel. We were scared but we did not leave.”
She said the police initially did not allow people to enter, but when the crowd outside gathered, they withdrew and allowed people to enter.
Many early protesters
Despite protesters facing lathicharge and tear gas a day earlier, many youths said they had come to the protest site for the first time on Tuesday (July 21, 2026) for the “brutal” action.
Paakhi Singh, 20, wore gloves and walked around the protest site with a black plastic bag, picking up trash.
“I have been following the movement but this is the first time I am coming here. I saw yesterday’s police action and my humanity and empathy made me come here,” said Ms Singh, a student at Delhi University.
“The police have a right to duty, but they don’t have the right to beat pregnant women and students like yesterday,” she added.
Shashank (31), a professional dancer and teacher from West Delhi, said he was also coming to the protest site for the first time. “They (the government) had too many options and what they did was too bad. Some of my friends were also hit by the police yesterday. Some students and fellow teachers also joined the protest for the first time today,” he said.
“After watching yesterday’s events, I felt that I had to come here. If I don’t come even after that, then when?” he asked.
Annu Ranjan, 23, and her friend Diksha Nishad, 28, both first-timers to the protest site, said Monday’s police action prompted their decision to come, despite the possibility of facing a lathicharge at the protest site.
“After watching the videos, I felt I had to come here,” Ms Ranjan said.
Published – 21 Jul 2026 23:32 IST