Delhi erupts as students march on Parliament; over 150 injured

NEW DELHI: The national capital witnessed scenes of chaos on Monday as a march organised by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan escalated into violent clashes near Parliament. More than 100 students and 50 police personnel were injured, while authorities carried out mass arrests to disperse protesters gathered around Jantar Mantar.

The confrontation began shortly after 11 a.m. when CJP founder Abhijit Deepke ended his hunger strike at the request of activist Sonam Wangchuk and led thousands of supporters towards Parliament. Students, many of whom had been camping at the protest site since Sunday night, breached multiple security barricades and advanced towards the Parliament complex, where the Monsoon Session is underway.

Police tightened security across central Delhi, sealing roads within a five-kilometre radius of the protest site as clashes intensified. Protesters alleged that personnel used electric batons to push back demonstrators. Internet services were suspended in parts of the area, several Metro stations were closed, and security forces launched a large-scale operation to clear the roads. By late afternoon, the protest had spread towards Kerala House, with demonstrators continuing to occupy stretches around Connaught Place and Patel Chowk.

Even as tensions flared on the streets, political negotiations gathered pace. CJP spokespersons Sourav Das and Ashutosh Rank met Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda, while Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan reportedly held discussions with Union Home Minister Amit Shah over the unfolding situation.

The police action triggered sharp political reactions, with Rahul Gandhi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and the CPM Politburo condemning the crackdown on protesters and questioning the government's handling of the agitation.

Meanwhile, activist Sonam Wangchuk, who remains on a hunger strike at Safdarjung Hospital, expressed anguish over the violence. The Delhi High Court has sought a report on his health condition.
Despite the detentions and heightened security, protest leaders said the agitation would continue until Dharmendra Pradhan resigns, signalling that the standoff between the protesters and the government is far from over.