Congress MP Shashi Tharoor questioned the police use of a lathi-charge against a non-violent CJP protest at Jantar Mantar on July 20, 2026 [1].
The incident highlights growing tensions between law enforcement and civil society groups in India's capital. The use of force against peaceful demonstrators raises concerns regarding the protection of democratic assembly rights, and the proportionality of police response.
Tharoor responded to the chaos that erupted during the CJP march toward Parliament. He described the police action as an act of violence and said that he could not understand the logic behind the crackdown [1].
"When a non-violent protest is taking place, what is the reason for a lathi-charge? It is an act of violence. I don’t understand the logic of this," Tharoor said [1].
Reports on the police tactics used to disperse the crowd vary. Some accounts state that police used lathis, or batons, to break up the marchers [2]. Other reports indicate that police fired tear-gas shells at the protesters [3].
Tharoor emphasized that the nature of the protest was non-violent, making the escalation of force unjustified. He said that there was no logical reason for the police to employ such measures against citizens exercising their right to protest peacefully [1].
Jantar Mantar has long served as a primary site for public demonstrations in New Delhi. The recent clash marks another instance of friction between the state and political activists attempting to bring grievances to the attention of the central government.
“"When a non-violent protest is taking place, what is the reason for a lathi-charge?"”
The condemnation by a senior lawmaker like Tharoor signals a political challenge to the Delhi Police's crowd-control protocols. The contradiction in reports—ranging from baton charges to the use of tear gas—suggests a volatile environment where the scale of force is disputed, potentially leading to legal scrutiny over the violation of peaceful assembly rights.
