Guwahati: Delhi Police fired tear gas shells and used batons to disperse protesters during the Cockroach Janta Party‘s (CJP) ‘Sansad Chalo’ march towards Parliament on Monday, as demonstrators sought the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged irregularities in competitive examinations, including the NEET paper leak.
The protest coincided with the opening day of Parliament’s Monsoon Session. Police erected multiple layers of barricades in central Delhi to prevent protesters from reaching Parliament. As demonstrators attempted to breach the barricades, security personnel used tear gas and batons to disperse the crowd.
Despite the police action, protesters continued raising slogans against the Centre and reiterated their demand for Pradhan’s resignation.
The CJP alleged that Delhi Police used excessive force during the protest. Party spokesperson Saurav Das claimed that Sonam Wangchuk’s wife, Geetanjali Angmo, was assaulted during the crackdown and alleged that her hair was pulled by police personnel. He also claimed that a 12-year-old girl sustained a head injury and that dozens of protesters were injured.
Das had earlier claimed that CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke had been detained by Delhi Police. However, he later retracted the claim, stating on X that Dipke had neither been detained nor arrested.
“UPDATE: Dipke not in detention or arrest. A HUGE CROWD is still outside Kerala House,” Das posted.
The protest was organised to press for Pradhan’s resignation over alleged irregularities in competitive examinations, including question paper leaks and technical glitches.
The demonstration comes days after activist Sonam Wangchuk was shifted to Safdarjung Hospital following his indefinite hunger strike in support of the CJP-led agitation. The protest has also drawn support from Opposition leaders, who have criticised the Centre over its handling of the agitation and Wangchuk’s removal from the protest site on July 18.