Delhi Police Clash With Cockroach Janta Party During Parliament March

Thousands of supporters of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) converged on New Delhi on July 20, 2026, for the 'Chalo Sansad' march. The demonstration demanded education system reforms and the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan following alleged NEET-UG paper leaks and subsequent student suicides. The movement was galvanized by the forced hospitalization of activist Sonam Wangchuk on July 18, after he completed a 21-day hunger strike at Jantar Mantar.

Despite prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, protesters attempted to march toward Parliament on the opening day of the Monsoon Session. Delhi Police and the Rapid Action Force responded with lathi charges and tear gas to prevent the crowd from breaching security barricades. Clashes resulted in injuries to dozens of protesters and over 50 police personnel. The unrest led to the temporary closure of five Delhi Metro stations and intermittent internet shutdowns in central Delhi.

Government outreach began on July 20, as Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda met with CJP representatives Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka. The CJP submitted a memorandum demanding Pradhan's resignation, 1 crore rupees in compensation for the families of deceased aspirants, and Wangchuk's release. While Nadda described the atmosphere as "cordial," he urged the group to end their sit-in without granting immediate assurances. Opposition leaders from the Congress and Aam Aadmi Party condemned the police crackdown, while Wangchuk continued his hunger strike from Safdarjung Hospital, conditioning its end on government accountability.