Over the past month, the Cockroach Janta Party has witnessed the support of hundreds of protesters, leaders and actors coming together to fight for the same cause – the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan following irregularities in the NEET exam. However, on the 31st day onwards, the protest site is witnessing a new form of support – delivery of food orders made by people even in different cities, for those still in dharna.
The photos, which have now gone viral on social media, show piles of food packages and orders at Jantar Mantar, which are being sent in by people from all over the country.
Videos show delivery partners arriving at the protest site with orders already paid for.
Read also: Lathi charge, internet shutdown: How CJP’s ‘Chalo Sansad’ rally brought Delhi to a standstill
Mumbai man sends food
Zomato’s delivery partner arrived at the protest site on Monday evening, hours after the police cracked down on the CJP’s Parliament rally, with a box of food. He pointed out that the order was made by a man named Anuj Rawat from Maharashtra, who asked him to give food to “any hungry person out there.”
Another Swiggy delivery partner, who arrived from a restaurant in Delhi’s Greater Kailash area on Tuesday night, told HT, “A person named Anil Yadav ordered 25 plates of vegetables and asked me to deliver them near the protest site. They just wanted to help the students. This is my second delivery here.”
Supporters also reached Jantar Mantar carrying food. Usman, 23, a resident of Chowdi Bazar, said he did not join the protest on Monday, but the videos showing Monday’s violence moved him.
He added: “We saw videos of young girls being beaten. People from our neighborhood asked us to take food with us. It is our way of expressing solidarity.”
Shivam, another supporter from Faridabad, came with his elder brother.
“We brought food with us. We were protesting peacefully yesterday. The way the government has treated the children will only fuel more discontent,” he told HT.
Read also: “I lied to the family and faced the scum here”: Young women at the GPC rally tell their experience, “Like cockroaches, we will come back”
The photos show different types of food placed on the table, including pizza and burgers. Visuals from the site showed essential medicines and water bottles being also provided to anyone who needs them.
The protest continues
A day after the CJP’s ‘Sansad Chalo’ rally turned violent and left many injured, hundreds of protesters and supporters arrived at Jantar Mantar on Tuesday to continue offering their support. Subsequently, Delhi Police announced that Section 163 is still in effect and people are not permitted to gather around the site.
Read also: Protesters were ‘unruly, aggressive and violent’: Delhi Police at CJP protest
What happened on Monday?
More than 50,000 demonstrators took to the streets on Monday to participate in the Justice and Development Party’s march to Parliament. But the police forces did not allow the demonstrators to leave Jantar Mantar. Tight security measures were deployed at the site, including multiple layers of barriers set up on the roads leading to Parliament to prevent protesters from walking.
The protests turned violent after a clash between demonstrators and police forces, which led to the firing of tear gas canisters, seriously wounding several people. A 22-year-old man was among those injured during the chaos.
Abhijit Debaki, founder of CJP He has now ruled out a march to ParliamentSaying that he fears more such attacks on students. He also ended his hunger strike on Monday after 3 days.
RJD leaders said the protests would continue until their demands – namely – Pradhan’s resignation – were met. $Compensation of Rs 1 crore to the families of those who died, and release of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, who is still on hunger strike.
