- By Priyanka Koul
- Tue, 21 Jul 2026 12:09 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
- The CJP led a large protest march demanding Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation over exam irregularities.
- Clashes occurred with Delhi Police, who used tear gas and baton charges to stop the march.
- Protests disrupted Parliament and extended to other cities; police denied detaining CJP founder amid allegations of excessive force.
Cockroach Janata Party, a Gen-Z outfit that began as a satirical movement, led its first 'Chalo Sansad' march from Jantar Mantar to Parliament on Monday, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged examination irregularities and the NEET paper leak. The march coincided with the opening day of Parliament's Monsoon Session and drew thousands of protesters to the streets.
Protesters carrying flags, some dressed as cockroaches, attempted to march towards Parliament as police used tear gas and baton charges to stop them. Each time they were pushed back, they regrouped and tried to move forward again.
The large turnout came two days after climate activist Sonam Wangchuk was removed from the protest site by the Delhi Police. Wangchuk has been on an indefinite hunger strike for the past 20 days.
Earlier in the day, a two-member CJP delegation met Union Minister JP Nadda and submitted a memorandum outlining its demands, including Pradhan's resignation. According to the party, Nadda urged the protesters to end their sit-in and assured the delegation that their demands would be conveyed to the appropriate authorities.
By afternoon, the high-security roads leading to Parliament had become the centre of clashes, with slogans, rain, tear gas, and heavy police deployment dominating the scene.
The march drew a diverse crowd, including Gen Z protesters, school students, parents with children, college students, government job aspirants, and participants from several states.
Here are the latest developments from the CJP protest:
- After a day-long protest and the uproar during the Parliament march, protesters gathered again late at night. CJP chief Abhijit Dipke sat down at the protest site again.
View this post on Instagram
- With the day drawing to a close, the Delhi Police issued an official statement on the CJP protest, alleging that protesters displayed “unruly, aggressive and violent behaviour.” The police said that despite repeated warnings and lawful directions to disperse, the protesters refused to comply and allegedly violated prohibitory orders in place.
- According to the statement, protesters attacked police personnel with stones and other objects, attempted to breach barricades, vandalised police and government vehicles, damaged public property, and engaged in acts of violence that, the police said, posed a threat to public order, security arrangements, and the safety of personnel deployed on duty.
- The Delhi Police said more than 118 personnel sustained injuries, including senior officers from the ranks of special commissioner of police, joint commissioner of police, additional commissioner of police, deputy commissioner of police, additional deputy commissioner of police, and assistant commissioner of police, along with several women police personnel.
- Around 60 protesters were also reported to have been injured during the clashes.
- The medico-legal examination (MLC) of the remaining injured police personnel is currently underway.
- The police further alleged that the protesters caused extensive damage to public property, with around 15 to 20 government vehicles and other government assets vandalised during the incident.
- Around 70 protesters have been detained so far. The police added that legal proceedings are being initiated, with an FIR being registered under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and other applicable laws for alleged offences including rioting, assault on public servants, damage to public property, and other violations during the protest.
- "The cockroaches have achieved a major victory today! We made the Government bow down and listen to us. We will not stop till Dharmendra Pradhan resigns," spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka said in a post on X.
- CJP founder Abhijit Dipke briefly fainted during a sit-in at Jantar Mantar on Monday evening and was escorted away by fellow protesters. He had ended his indefinite hunger strike earlier in the day.
VIDEO | Delhi: CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke briefly faints during sit-in at Jantar Mantar, escorted away by fellow protesters. pic.twitter.com/H2saj5E0D6
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 20, 2026
- Cockroach Janata Party spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka said, "I think lakhs and lakhs of Indian youth showed up in Delhi today, which means that the youth of this country are pretty much done with this government. We thank them for coming in such large numbers and standing with us, fighting for the cause. At the same time, the visuals we are seeing from across Delhi involving the Delhi Police are deeply concerning."
- Inside Parliament, proceedings in both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha were repeatedly adjourned as Opposition members protested over the CJP-led demonstration outside.
- The protests extended beyond Delhi, with demonstrations reported in Mumbai, Goa, Nagpur, Rajasthan, and several other parts of the country. Hundreds gathered in Mumbai and Goa in solidarity with Sonam Wangchuk and the Cockroach Janata Party.
📍Mahim, Mumbai
— Cockroach is Back (@Cockroachisback) July 20, 2026
Mumbai cockroaches protested in condemning the police brutality against students in Delhi
Students Won’t Stop Now! pic.twitter.com/PoSFwUx0UZ
- CJP founder Abhijit Dipke said the protest would continue until Dharmendra Pradhan resigned.
Abhijeet Dipke invites the public to join them at Jantar Mantar to continue the agitation against Dharmendra Pradhan.
— Cockroach is Back (@Cockroachisback) July 20, 2026
The BJP had sent goons to infiltrate the protest and tried to create mischief today. CJP and its protesters have a track record of peaceful protests.
Young… pic.twitter.com/ECnN478N0U
- "We still haven’t heard from the government on our demands. We are still waiting. The protest is continuing at Jantar Mantar (outside Kerala House) in the meanwhile," CJP spokesperson Saurav Das said after meeting JP Nadda.
🚨#UPDATE: We still haven’t heard from the government on our demands. We are still waiting. The protest is continuing at Jantar Mantar (outside Kerala House) in the meanwhile. https://t.co/GkI5fTuGzB
— Saurav Das (@SauravDassss) July 20, 2026
- Police dismantled the CJP protest site on Monday, hours after stopping the march to Parliament using tear gas and baton charges. Protesters later regrouped at Jantar Mantar, with leaders vowing to continue the agitation.
- The stage where Sonam Wangchuk had been observing his hunger strike was dismantled, and tents, carpets, mattresses, and other materials were removed.
- Wangchuk, who has been on a hunger strike since June 27, clarified on Monday that he had not ended his fast. Sharing a letter on his official X account, he said he would continue his hunger strike after witnessing what he described as police brutality against the country's youth.
In response to the police brutality on protesters, Sonam Wangchuk decides to continue his fast. https://t.co/eUT83r7utm
— Cockroach is Back (@Cockroachisback) July 20, 2026
-Videos circulating on social media showed damaged police vehicles following clashes between protesters and security personnel during the CJP's 'Chalo Sansad' march. Delhi Police said at least 50 personnel were injured, while several protesters also sustained injuries.
VIDEO | CJP March: Protesters run amok, riot control units fire teargas near Patel Chowk.
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 20, 2026
(Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/P5E5ATteiT
- JP Nadda later appealed to protesters to end their sit-in. In a post on X, he wrote, "This morning, for the first time, a proposal came from the protesters to hold talks with the government, and our discussions have been ongoing since 11:50 AM. The meeting took place in a cordial atmosphere. An initial verbal discussion was held in detail with their delegation, and they submitted a written petition to me around 4 PM. I have requested all the protesters to end their sit-in and assist the administration in restoring normalcy."
- Amid reports claiming that CJP founder Abhijit Dipke had been detained, Delhi Police denied the claims, calling reports circulating on social media "entirely false".
- CJP spokesperson Saurav Das claimed that JP Nadda had assured the delegation that the demands would be discussed. "The minister assured us he will discuss this at the appropriate level. However, no commitments have been made so far. The peaceful protesters will not rest until the demand is met," Das wrote on X.
- Videos on social media showed police using force against protesters near Patel Chowk. Lathi charges were also reported at Jantar Mantar, the RBI headquarters, and Rail Bhawan as police attempted to stop the march.
- CJP protesters alleged that some Delhi Police personnel deployed during the operation were not wearing name badges and accused the force of using excessive force. Videos shared online showed police baton-charging protesters near Parliament.
- Union Home Minister Amit Shah met Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Monday as thousands attempted to march to Parliament demanding the latter's resignation. Officials confirmed the meeting took place at Pradhan's office in the Parliament House complex, although details of the discussion were not disclosed.
- Delhi Police fired tear gas shells near Shastri Bhawan and carried out lathi charges near the RBI headquarters to disperse the crowd.
ALSO READ: 'Are Norms Being Followed?': Delhi HC Seeks Police Reply Over Alleged Surveillance Of CJP Protesters
- Internet services remained suspended across large parts of central Delhi for most of the day. Despite the restrictions, videos of the clashes continued to surface online whenever connectivity was briefly restored.
- According to Delhi Police, more than 50 personnel were injured during the clashes. The CJP, meanwhile, alleged excessive use of force and claimed the number of injured protesters was significantly higher.
- Roads leading to Parliament remained heavily barricaded throughout the day, with riot police deployed behind multiple layers of barricades. Buses were kept ready to detain protesters, while emergency vehicles remained on standby.
- From the morning, streams of protesters carrying the national flag and handwritten placards made their way towards Parliament.
- Thousands had gathered in Delhi for the Cockroach Janata Party's (CJP) 'Chalo Sansad' march, seeking the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan over the controversy surrounding this year's NEET examination.
- The march began at Jantar Mantar, where the CJP has been holding a sit-in since June 20, and coincided with the opening day of Parliament's Monsoon Session. It also came as educationist Sonam Wangchuk remained hospitalised.
( All image credits to PTI )