Members of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) staged a sit-in protest at Jantar Mantar on Monday, July 20, 2026 [1].

The demonstration coincides with the opening day of the Parliament’s Monsoon Session, highlighting escalating tensions between activist groups and the government over the right to protest in the capital.

Protesters, including activist Sonam Wangchuk, Abhijeet Dipke, and Gitanjali Angmo, gathered near Kerala House to demand the right to march to the Parliament building [2]. The situation escalated when Delhi Police conducted a lathicharge to disperse the crowd. According to reports, 50 police personnel were injured during the clashes [1].

Sonam Wangchuk remains on an ongoing hunger strike as of July 20, 2026 [3]. He is using the strike to press for the release of detained protesters and to oppose recent police actions [4]. Earlier, the Delhi High Court refused to discharge Wangchuk, denying his request to be released from the hospital to attend the march [5].

"They've made it like North Korea," Abhijeet Dipke said [4].

Despite the violence, a meeting took place between CJP leaders and BJP President JP Nadda to discuss the grievances of the protesters [2]. The CJP is protesting strict police restrictions that have prevented them from reaching the legislative seat of power.

A spokesperson for the CJP said, "Protests to continue" [6].

The group continues to call for the immediate release of all activists detained during the attempt to reach Parliament. The sit-in remains active as the Monsoon Session begins, with supporters continuing to gather at Jantar Mantar despite the heavy police presence.

“"They've made it like North Korea"”

The clash at Jantar Mantar underscores a deepening conflict between the Indian government's security protocols and the constitutional right to peaceful assembly. By timing the protest to the Monsoon Session, the CJP is attempting to force legislative attention onto police conduct and civil liberties, while the government's refusal to grant march permits suggests a strict adherence to security zones around Parliament.