Cockroach Party's 'March to Parliament' programme: Police baton charge, mobile internet services shut

India's Parliament monsoon session began on Monday. Despite police denying permission, thousands of supporters of the 'Cockroach Janata Party' (CJP) gathered in Delhi to take part in the 'Chalo Sansad' (March to Parliament) programme on the first day of the session.

They were preparing to march from Jantar Mantar to Parliament to protest alleged irregularities in the national medical college entrance exam and demand the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. However, police used baton charges to disperse the protesters. Clashes and tense situations erupted between police and protesters during the event. As a precautionary measure, mobile internet services were also suspended in some areas of central Delhi.

Most of the protesters were young men and women. The programme was organised to protest alleged irregularities in competitive examinations. The protesters are demanding accountability for these incidents and the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

However, Delhi Police had not permitted the march and imposed strict security measures across central Delhi, including barricading roads and deploying riot-control vehicles.

Tension escalated when members of the 'Cockroach Janata Party' (CJP) and their supporters gathered at Delhi's Jantar Mantar to begin the 'March to Parliament' programme on Monday. As the number of protesters grew, clashes broke out with Delhi Police.

Earlier, on Sunday, Delhi Police had not granted permission for the programme and had banned large gatherings in the area. In the interest of security, five Delhi Metro stations — Rajiv Chowk, Janpath, Patel Chowk, Central Secretariat and Seva Bhavan — were closed until further notice. This caused inconvenience and chaos for passengers at various metro stations across the capital.

Hundreds of passengers were stranded due to the station closures. Many had to take alternative and longer routes to reach their destinations. Long queues and crowds of passengers were seen in front of the closed gates at Rajiv Chowk, one of Delhi's busiest interchange stations.

Tension had escalated earlier on Saturday when academician and activist Sonam Wangchuk, who had been on a hunger strike for 21 days as part of the CJP-backed movement, was forcibly taken to hospital. However, he continued his fast at the hospital as well.

The 'Cockroach Janata Party' (CJP), founded by Abhijit Deepak, started as an online satirical movement in May this year to protest question paper leaks and irregularities in various examinations. It quickly gained widespread popularity. The activists identify themselves as 'Cockroaches' .

For the past month, they have been holding a sit-in at Delhi's historic Jantar Mantar. Members of several student organisations have also joined them. As part of the movement, academician and activist Sonam Wangchuk has been on a hunger strike, losing over 9 kilogrammes and becoming physically weak.

Despite his physical condition, Wangchuk had announced he would participate in the march towards Parliament. He joked to his supporters, saying that even after his death, his spirit would remain with the movement if necessary.

Activist Sonam Wangchuk issued a handwritten message from Delhi's Safdarjung Hospital, claiming he was illegally detained. He said that despite being removed from Jantar Mantar and hospitalised, he is continuing his fast. He also called on supporters to make the protest march towards Parliament a success.

Wangchuk is currently undergoing treatment at the hospital in a physically weak condition due to the three-week-long hunger strike. In this situation, his wife, Geetanjali J Angmo, has pledged to lead the movement.

Wangchuk has become one of the prominent faces of the movement protesting the alleged NEET question paper leak. In his message, he described the movement as "India's second independence movement" and called for continuing the fight against injustices like question paper leaks and what he termed illegal detention.