New Delhi – The historic Jantar Mantar in central Delhi has transformed into a sea of protesters as the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) gears up for its scheduled march to Parliament on Monday. Thousands of demonstrators, many camping overnight, have flooded the site, with crowd numbers swelling dramatically following the police removal of activist Sonam Wangchuk on Saturday morning. The protest, which began on June 20, has now reached a fever pitch, drawing students, social workers, and citizens from across the country.
By Sunday afternoon, the site was packed to capacity, with queues snaking from both entries. Volunteers acted as crowd managers, while others sprayed water to provide relief from the oppressive heat and humidity. The atmosphere was charged with slogans and patriotic songs, punctuated by the chants of student organizations like AISA and SFI. “There is a lot of anger against the current government. They don’t respect the Constitution,” said Shambu Dayal Meena, 31, a tribal protester from Rajasthan who has been on a hunger strike for six days alongside Pawan Kumar from Uttar Pradesh.
The protest has become a convergence point for various grievances. Ravi, a student from Rai Bareilly, voiced the anguish of thousands over the NEET exam scandal. “Students work hard and give their everything to government exams only to realize they have been leaked. I cannot even imagine the state of parents who lost their children to these scams,” he said. Another protester, Janeshwar, 32, highlighted the unity across caste lines: “Here, a Dalit, a tribal, and an OBC person are sitting together. Why? Because the government has closed down thousands of schools and it is our children that suffer.”
The site also hosts a makeshift clinic, run by volunteer doctors. Abhishek Saha, an Ayurvedic doctor from Rohini, was distributing ORS packets, medicines, and band-aids from a table donated by supporters. “It was started by another doctor from Maharashtra, and now I’m looking after it. People have donated all the medicines,” he said, emphasizing his solidarity for a better education system. Meanwhile, a heavy deployment of police, Rapido Action Force, and Nagaland Armed Force personnel was visible, with at least 10-11 buses stationed near entry points.
For many, the protest transcends a single issue. “It is a platform for us to express our discontentment with the government,” said Priya, an IT professional from Gurgaon. “From something as basic as waterlogged conditions during the monsoon to embezzlement of donations at the Ram Temple at Ayodhya, how much and for how long are we supposed to suffer?” echoed Vinod Kumar Mehra, a 60-year-old social worker. As the march to Parliament looms, the crowd at Jantar Mantar stands as a powerful symbol of widespread public anger and a demand for accountability.
