The Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP) call for a march from Jantar Mantar, the site where protesters have been camping for a month, saw an overwhelming turnout, with thousands turning out on Monday. But the march soon hit roadblocks, as security forces used lathi charges and tear gas to disperse the crowd heading towards Parliament.
Aparna Sen showing solidarity with the protesting students
Veteran filmmaker Aparna Sen has joined the chorus of support for the ongoing student protests, standing in solidarity with the youth demanding change. On Instagram, she shared an emotional note that read, “My name is Aparna Sen. I just want to say that last night I learned from our students the meaning of democratic dissent. I learned from them how to believe in the constitution and work according to it. I became like most of us, very de-moralized, very depressed, very de-spirited, thinking what is the point of protesting against anything. What is the point of asking for anything that we consider a democratic right…”He added, “These students give me a ray of hope. They show me that it can be done. They believe in a democratic way, they protest peacefully, non-violently, completely in accordance with the constitution and believe that they will be heard. It is so touching that I… all last night, I just cried. I thought to myself how brave, what a strong lesson they learned from the children. All I could think about was blessing them with all my heart and saying ‘shabaash (bravo)!’ We can learn from you, thanks!In the caption, he mentioned, “The 20th of July was an unforgettable night! Our children showed us the way when we became blasé. Now I feel anger at the way those unarmed children were beaten! What could they be! How they are ruining the future of our country? Some of the children will be our future leaders, doctors, scientists, teachers, and they will not be accepted! The country must stand in solidarity with them. It’s now or never.”
Delhi Police: protesters offer conflicting accounts
Delhi officials said that protesters at the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) demonstration on Monday in New Delhi turned violent and refused to leave even when the police pushed them back, violating the rules in place. The protesters told a different story, they said the Delhi Police targeted them indiscriminately, leaving many injured. Several videos on social media showed police beating students with batons and using tear gas. The protesters also claimed that people wearing plain clothes, not wearing police uniforms, were also attacked.
Protests linked to: NEET: Exam leak allegations:
The protests led by the CJP have now lasted for the past two weeks, driven by claims that things have gone wrong in the education system, particularly, allegations that NEET exam papers have been leaked. Social activist: Sonam Wangchuk added his voice to the movement earlier this month, starting a hunger strike at Jantar Mantar.