Thousands of students, educators, civil society members and supporters of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) gathered at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on Monday, July 20, for the organisation’s planned “Chalo Sansad” march demanding sweeping reforms in India’s education and examination system.
The protest, which coincided with the first day of Parliament’s Monsoon Session, escalated after police prevented marchers from proceeding towards Parliament, leading to reports of baton charges and clashes near police barricades.
Delhi Police maintained that no permission had been granted for the procession and said prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) were in force across New Delhi due to security concerns.
In anticipation of the gathering, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) temporarily closed five metro stations Janpath, Rajiv Chowk, Patel Chowk, Central Secretariat and Seva Teerth before later restoring interchange facilities at Rajiv Chowk and Central Secretariat.
The protest also marked a significant moment in climate and education activist Sonam Wangchuk’s ongoing hunger strike. From Safdarjung Hospital, where he was shifted after his health deteriorated, Wangchuk said he was prepared to end his fast if the government accepted responsibility for failures in the education system or if Members of Parliament agreed to formally raise the issue during the Monsoon Session.
His wife, Gitanjali Angmo, appealed to demonstrators to remain peaceful despite reports of confrontation, urging supporters not to lose sight of the movement’s focus on education reforms and democratic accountability.
Heavy Security, Rising Tensions
Central Delhi witnessed one of its largest security deployments in recent months as authorities attempted to prevent the proposed 1.5-kilometre march from Jantar Mantar to Parliament. Multiple layers of barricades, Delhi Police personnel, Rapid Action Force (RAF) units, riot-control teams and reserve contingents were stationed around Parliament, Vijay Chowk, Janpath, Patel Chowk and Central Secretariat from the early hours of Monday.
Officials argued that permitting thousands of protesters to march towards Parliament during the Monsoon Session could threaten the security of Parliament, disrupt public order, create severe traffic congestion and hinder the movement of Members of Parliament and other protected individuals. Police also warned that anyone violating prohibitory orders could face legal action.
Despite these restrictions, large crowds assembled at Jantar Mantar, where students, teachers, professionals, parents and supporters carrying placards demanding education reforms continued gathering throughout the morning. Several political leaders, actors and civil society representatives also visited the protest site in solidarity.
As protesters attempted to move beyond police barricades towards Parliament, reports emerged that police and RAF personnel used batons to disperse sections of the crowd after demonstrators allegedly tried to breach security arrangements.
Visuals shared by multiple media organisations showed tense scenes, with students running from barricades while security personnel pushed crowds back. At the time of reporting, Delhi Police had not issued a detailed response to individual allegations regarding the reported use of force, but reiterated that officers were enforcing existing security restrictions around Parliament.
Meanwhile, Gitanjali Angmo urged demonstrators to maintain peace, appealing to supporters not to react to provocation and to continue the movement through non-violent means.
Education Reforms at the Centre
Monday’s developments represent the latest chapter in a protest movement that has grown significantly over the past three weeks. What began as demonstrations over alleged examination irregularities and repeated paper leaks has evolved into a broader nationwide campaign calling for systemic reforms in India’s education and recruitment ecosystem.
The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has sought to position the movement as one demanding institutional accountability rather than focusing on individual incidents.
Among its principal demands are greater transparency in public examinations, stronger safeguards against paper leak networks, structural reforms in recruitment processes, parliamentary debate on education governance and accountability from the Union Education Ministry.
Protesters have also demanded the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, arguing that repeated examination controversies have eroded public confidence in competitive examinations.
Sonam Wangchuk’s indefinite hunger strike has become one of the movement’s defining symbols, drawing support from students, parents, educators, public figures and opposition leaders across the country.
After his health reportedly deteriorated, Wangchuk was shifted to Delhi’s Safdarjung Hospital, where he announced that he would end his fast if the government acknowledged failures in the education system or if Members of Parliament formally agreed to take up the issue during the ongoing Monsoon Session.
His statement signalled a willingness to resolve the standoff through parliamentary engagement rather than prolonged confrontation. Throughout Sunday night and Monday morning, organisers repeatedly emphasised that the movement was intended to remain peaceful and democratic, even as authorities maintained that no permission had been granted for the march to Parliament.
With Parliament now in session, the protests have intensified public attention on questions surrounding examination integrity, governance and accountability in India’s education system.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
The scenes witnessed in Delhi underline both the importance of democratic protest and the responsibility of all stakeholders to ensure that dissent remains peaceful while public safety is protected. Education is one of the most consequential issues affecting millions of young people across India, and concerns over examination integrity, transparency and institutional accountability deserve serious and constructive engagement rather than political polarisation.
Equally, law enforcement agencies have the challenging task of balancing citizens’ constitutional right to peaceful assembly with legitimate security concerns, particularly around Parliament during a session. In moments of heightened tension, restraint, dialogue and empathy become essential from protesters, authorities and political leaders alike. Gitanjali Angmo’s appeal for calm serves as a timely reminder that meaningful change is most likely to emerge through peaceful democratic participation rather than confrontation.
Also read: 3 Delhi Metro Stations Remain Closed; Rajiv Chowk Reopens Ahead of CJP’s ‘Chalo Sansad’ March
