Delhi Police used tear gas on Monday to block a "Chalo Sansad" protest march to Parliament organized by the Cockroach Janta Party [1].
The demonstration highlights growing public anger over leaked high-stakes exam papers and the forced hospitalization of hunger-striking activist Sonam Wangchuk [2].
Authorities deployed tear gas as supporters attempted to march toward Parliament from Jantar Mantar [2]. A Delhi Police spokesperson said no permission had been sought or granted for the rally [1]. To prevent the gathering, police imposed prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) [1]. This legal provision bans assemblies of five or more people [1].
The protest is led by Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke, who is demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan [3].
"We won't leave till Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan goes," Dipke said [3].
Reports on the size and intensity of the crowd vary. Drone footage captured thousands of protesters participating in the demonstration [4]. However, other reports indicate that the initial rush of support ebbed and crowds thinned as the protest settled into a simmer [5].
The unrest follows a series of academic scandals and the health crisis of Wangchuk, whose hunger strike has become a focal point for the movement [2]. Despite the police crackdown, the party's demands remain unchanged [5].
“"We won't leave till Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan goes."”
The clash at Jantar Mantar reflects a convergence of educational grievances and human rights concerns in India. By linking exam leaks to the treatment of high-profile activists like Sonam Wangchuk, the Cockroach Janta Party is attempting to broaden a specific policy failure into a wider mandate for ministerial accountability. The use of the BNSS to block small gatherings suggests a high level of state caution regarding the potential for these disparate grievances to mobilize a larger urban population.
