Delhi police deployed tear gas and conducted lathi-charges on Monday to block a mass protest march toward the Indian Parliament building.
The clash marks a significant escalation in tensions between the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) and government authorities in the capital. The scale of the confrontation highlights the growing mobilization of the CJP and the state's readiness to use force to maintain security around the legislative hub.
The demonstration, described as a "Chalo Sansad" march, saw at least 20,000 people [1] attempting to reach the Parliament building in central Delhi. The crowd included CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke and other party supporters. Police blocked the route with barricades, leading to chaotic scenes as the crowd swelled.
During the confrontation, security forces used tear gas and baton charges to disperse the protesters. The resulting violence left more than 100 police officers injured [2]. Police also detained 70 people [2] during the operation to clear the streets.
Protesters had gathered near Jantar Mantar before attempting the march. The event coincided with the monsoon session of Parliament, which typically sees heightened security measures in the surrounding districts. The CJP movement has recently gained visibility through various public demonstrations and hunger strikes involving figures such as Sonam Wangchuk.
Local authorities have not yet released a full report on the number of protesters injured during the lathi-charges, but the deployment of tear gas was widespread across the blocked sectors. Police said the force was necessary to prevent a breach of the Parliament's security perimeter.
“At least 20,000 people attempted to reach the Parliament building.”
The clash in Delhi underscores the volatile nature of the 'Chalo Sansad' movement and the challenges the Indian government faces in balancing the right to protest with the security of the Parliament. The high number of police injuries and the scale of the crowd suggest that the Cockroach Janata Party has developed a significant grassroots capacity to mobilize thousands in the capital, potentially signaling a more disruptive phase of their political campaign.
