Protest in Jantar Mantar
Even as activist Sonam Wangchuk ended his hunger strike and a delegation from the Cockroach Janta Party held a second round of talks with the central government on Friday, the mood on Jantar Mantar Road remained defiant. The main protest site was packed, with people waiting in the evening for 50 to 100 minutes in a winding queue that extended to the Janpath Metro station on Tolstoy Marg.
Delegations large and small, including lawyers, NGO workers, farmer unions and groups from neighboring countries, arrived carrying placards and banners to mark their attendance.
Pankaj Singh, a resident of Rohini, said he had to wait for two hours before he could enter the site. “I felt like I was missing something historical, so I had to come. I had seen footage of police violence. They had mistreated wrestlers earlier too. The government handles every case this way,” he said. Everywhere, the air vibrated with a mixture of patriotic songs and aggressive slogans shouted by rowdy groups of young protesters.
From the main stage, CJP leaders congratulated the protesters for their support, and announced that the protest would continue, although Sonam Wangchuk finally ended his indefinite fast after 26 days.
“By risking his life, Mr. Sonam woke up an entire nation, and we are all grateful for what he did for the country, but the protest at Jantar Mantar will continue. It is not a protest of one person or the CJP alone; it has become a youth movement,” said CJP founder Abhijit Debki.
He also took a jibe at the Central government over reports that union ministers were asked in the Cabinet meeting on Friday to increase their presence on social media platforms like Instagram as the movement has gained huge attention.
The sentiment echoed through the crowd. Satish Deshpande, who came from Madhya Pradesh, insisted that the demonstration should continue. He added: “Once the momentum wanes, the government will crush this movement just as it did the other movements. Now is the time to stand united.”
At the site, protesters erected a “Wall of Shame” to display photos that captured police personnel assaulting protesters during the July 20 Chalo Sansad rally organized by the CJP. It demanded FIRs against police officers involved in violence or sexual harassment, and asked citizens to upload photos and videos on its website to help identify security personnel.
While demands for Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation echoed from the theatre, the organizers repeatedly appealed to the protesters to keep the movement peaceful and not clash with security personnel so as not to derail the negotiations.
At the Sansad Marg barricades outside the National Disaster Management Center headquarters, a volunteer appealed over a loudspeaker for calm: “Sonam Wangchuk has broken his fast, and talks are ongoing on our remaining demands. Do not do anything that will cause these talks to fail.” There was no major confrontation between protesters and police during the evening.
