Police detained 70 protesters [1] and dismantled a makeshift stage at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on Monday, June 24, 2024 [1].
The crackdown occurred during a "Chalo Sansad" protest organized by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP). The event highlighted growing tensions between student-led advocacy groups and the government regarding the integrity of national examinations.
Thousands of people gathered at the site [2] to demand the resignation of Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The protesters cited an alleged NEET paper leak and other grievances as the primary drivers for their demonstration [3].
Authorities cleared the protest site and broke the makeshift stage used by the organizers [2]. Reports from the scene indicated that police also barred journalists from entering the area [2]. "The stage has been dismantled and journalists are being kept out," a reporter for Mathrubhumi said [2].
Abhijeet Dipke, a leader of the CJP, criticized the government's handling of the demonstration. He compared the environment to a restrictive regime, saying, "They've made it like North Korea" [1].
Despite the police action and the removal of their infrastructure, CJP leadership indicated the movement would not end. Dipke said, "We will continue until Dharmendra Pradhan resigns" [3].
The confrontation at Jantar Mantar marks a significant escalation in the protests surrounding the NEET exam controversies. The use of force to dismantle the stage and the reported restriction of media access have drawn criticism from activists seeking transparency in the education system.
“"They've made it like North Korea"”
The clash at Jantar Mantar reflects a broader crisis of confidence in India's competitive examination system. By targeting the Union Minister, the Cockroach Janta Party is attempting to move the NEET paper leak issue from a technical administrative failure to a matter of political accountability. The detention of protesters and the barring of media suggest a tightening of state control over public dissent in the capital.
