New Delhi: Thousands of students, youth activists and supporters of the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) gathered at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar on Monday before marching towards Parliament on the opening day of the Monsoon Session, defying heavy security arrangements and police attempts to stop the procession.
According to reports, sporadic clashes broke out between protesters and security personnel as demonstrators pushed through barricades, while several Delhi Metro stations were temporarily closed amid heightened security.
The march, organised under the banner of “Chalo Sansad”, was launched to demand greater accountability in the education system and action over the alleged NEET-UG paper leak. Even as police maintained a heavy presence across central Delhi, the Centre initiated talks with CJP leaders in an apparent bid to defuse the situation. However, the protesters reportedly insisted on holding discussions only with the Prime Minister or a Cabinet Minister.
Amid escalating protests, the Centre reportedly initiated efforts to open a dialogue with the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP). According to media reports, New Delhi Deputy Commissioner of Police Sachin Sharma held discussions with CJP representatives on behalf of the government. The protesters were reportedly offered meetings with the District Magistrate, a Union Government Secretary and later a Minister of State, but declined the proposals, insisting that talks should take place only with the Prime Minister or a Cabinet Minister. The CJP is understood to have submitted a list of preferred Union ministers for the proposed dialogue.
Meanwhile, activist Sonam Wangchuk, who remains admitted to Safdarjung Hospital after being shifted there by the Delhi Police on Saturday following the deterioration of his health during an indefinite hunger strike, said he was prepared to end his fast if the government accepted responsibility for alleged failures in the education system and Parliament agreed to take up the issue.
In a handwritten letter from the hospital, Wangchuk laid down three conditions for ending his hunger strike. He demanded that the government acknowledge accountability for the alleged lapses surrounding the NEET-UG examination, that Members of Parliament assure him the issue would be raised in both Houses, and that senior political leaders visit him in hospital to convey these assurances if his health prevented him from joining the Parliament march.
Meanwhile, the Delhi High Court agreed to hear on Monday afternoon an appeal filed by Wangchuk’s wife, Gitanjali J. Angmo, challenging an earlier order refusing permission to shift him from Safdarjung Hospital to a private medical facility of his choice. Her counsel argued that Wangchuk was not under arrest and retained the right to choose his treatment and hospital.
