Jantar Mantar CJP Protest Live: Delhi HC allows Sonam Wangchuk’s transfer to Medanta hospital

After a day of violent clashes with police, the youth-led Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) said it would no longer march towards Parliament, saying another attempt would only put more young protesters at risk.

The movement, now in its 24th day, said its agitation would continue in other forms despite Monday’s crackdown, which left scores injured after police stopped demonstrators attempting to reach Parliament.

Day after the ‘Sansad Chalo’ march

“We will not march again because the police will hurt the youth again,” CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke said at a press conference on Tuesday, adding that Monday’s march was called off to prevent further injuries.

“The government has completely shamed itself. If they wanted to, the resignation would have happened long ago, but all the BJP people are in arrogance,” the CJP said, renewing its demand for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s resignation.

Scores injured

Delhi Police said nearly 180 people were injured in Monday’s clashes, including 118 security and police personnel and 60 protesters. Police also said 70 protesters had been detained and legal action would be initiated against them.

Dipke claimed that more than 150 protesters were undergoing treatment in hospitals following the clashes.

Thousands of people from Delhi and neighbouring towns had joined Monday’s march, adding momentum to a movement that began as online satire but has since grown into one of the most visible youth-led protests during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s third term.

The months-old movement has drawn support from students and young people demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over examination paper leaks that affected more than 20 lakh students in May.

What’s next for the CJP protest?

CJP spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka said there had been no breakthrough in talks with the government after he and Saurav Das met Union Health Minister J P Nadda on Monday.

“J P Nadda told us that he would speak to the senior leadership and get back to us, but we have received no response so far,” Ranka told supporters at Jantar Mantar on Monday evening. “We did not receive any response. Five hours were wasted. If the government wants to talk to us, they will now have to come here,” he added.

The party said its sit-in would continue until its demands, including accountability for the alleged NEET paper leak and the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, are met.

Activist Sonam Wangchuk also said he would continue his hunger strike until student representatives are allowed to meet parliamentarians or he is permitted to do so from the hospital.

“I have decided to continue my fast until the youth leaders are allowed to meet the parliamentarians at the Sansad Bhawan or I am allowed to meet them here at the hospital. Hopefully the government will fix accountability of the Education Minister before that,” Wangchuk wrote in his second letter on Tuesday.