Guwahati: Supporters from across India used food delivery apps to send meals to protesters gathered at Jantar Mantar under the banner of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), prompting the organisation to appeal for no more food orders.
Delivery personnel made repeated trips to the protest site throughout Tuesday, carrying pizzas, burgers, momos, tea, samosas and thalis ordered by people from different parts of the country and abroad.
An 18-year-old delivery executive, said he had made 20 trips to the protest site since Tuesday morning, with four orders placed from the United States.
“Since morning, I have done 20 rounds here to deliver pizzas. Out of that, four orders were from the U.S. Other delivery agents from our restaurant are also coming here,” he said.
He said one of the orders comprised 80 pizzas, forcing even the restaurant manager to help with deliveries because of the volume of requests.
Many customers instructed delivery personnel to hand over the food to anyone at the protest site rather than a specific individual. Some also requested photographs or videos as proof that the food had reached the protesters.
One supporter, speaking over the phone after ordering pizzas to the site, said he was from Bihar and was currently studying nursing in Bengaluru.
“I had also written NEET in the past and then also the question paper got leaked. I later gave it up and took up nursing. I can’t come there now, but I wanted to show support to the students protesting and that is why I ordered pizzas,” he said.
Another delivery executive said he had completed 18 trips to the protest site, delivering orders ranging from 10 cups of tea to 34 burgers and 200 samosas.
“The orders ranged from 10 cups of chai to 34 burgers to 200 samosas. I send photos to some people of the food being distributed,” he said.
He added that one delivery inside the protest site took nearly an hour despite earning him only Rs 20.
“I got only 20 rupees for that order, but it took one hour to deliver the food inside and come back. But I still did it. I felt happy to distribute food inside for the students. I also have two children and these people are protesting for the right cause,” he said.
Another delivery executive said one of the delivery instructions on his phone read: “Please offer this to anyone at the Jantar Mantar protest site.”
By late evening, volunteers said the volume of food arriving at the protest site had exceeded demand, making distribution difficult.
At 10:55 p.m., the CJP posted on X asking supporters to stop placing food orders.
“India is such a beautiful country with such beautiful people – thanks for sending food for protesters. We are so overwhelmed. BUT for today, we have received more than enough food – please don’t send any more!” the organisation said.