NEW DELHI: In one of the biggest mobilisations against the Union government in the last 12 years, the streets of Lutyens’ Delhi came to a halt on Monday when a massive crowd of protesters marched towards Parliament from Jantar Mantar, demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged question paper leaks.
The scenes inside Parliament were equally tumultuous, but it was on the streets of New Delhi that the youth’s angst met the belligerence of police. The protest venue, Jantar Mantar, was cleared by evening, but the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) said that its founder Abhijeet Dipke and three others—Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka and climate activist Sonam Wangchuk’s wife Gitanjali Angmo—are still continuing the sit-in protest in front of Kerala House. Wangchuk, whose hunger strike entered the 23rd day, wrote an open letter in the evening, saying he will continue his fast over police actions.
The police resorted to lathicharge and burst teargas shells to disperse protesters—who drew from across the country and all strata of life—on most roads leading to the Parliament complex. Para-military personnel, in riot gear, joined cops to prevent protesters from reaching Parliament.
The government snapped internet services. A video surfaced in the morning, showing workers erecting metal barricades to restrict the agitators. However, when the crowd swelled and tried to move ahead, police used force and fired teargas shells. Many protesters said they were brutally assaulted by police. According to the RML Hospital, 65 medico-legal cases were in till 7 pm.
The scale of the protest prompted the government to approach the protesters for talks it had resisted since the protest started at Jantar Mantar on June 20.
Union minister J P Nadda and CJP members Das and Ranka held a meeting, during which CJP members raised three demands: immediate release of Wangchuk, resignation of Pradhan and `1 crore compensation for all NEET aspirants who had committed suicide. Nadda assured them he will put across their message to the party’s top leadership.
In the evening, the Delhi Police appealed to protestors to refrain from indulging in any unlawful activities. In a post on X, it said, “Delhi Police appeals to all protestors to maintain peace, exercise restraint and cooperate with the police in ensuring peace and public order.” However, by 9:30 pm, CJP Abhijeet Dipke, Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das, returned to the protest site with supporters.
CJP protest
May 15, 2026
CJI Surya Kant makes ‘cockroach’ remark while criticising individuals turning to activism to attack institutions
May 16
CJP founded by Abhijeet Dipke on social media
June 6
Dipke reaches Delhi from the US, secures permission from police and convenes the first protest at Jantar Mantar
June 12
Dipke joins protests in Lucknow
June 13
Protests in Amritsar draws a massive turnout
June 14
Hyderabad and Bengaluru, too, join the stir
June 20
CJP begins demonstration at Jantar Mantar
June 28 Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk joins the protest and begins an indefinite hunger strike at Jantar Mantar
July 18
Police forcibly shifts Wangchuk from Jantar Mantar to Safdarjung Hospital on day 21 of his hunger strike
July 20
CJP calls for ‘March to Parliament’ on the first day of the Monsoon session
