New Delhi: Even as Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) spokespersons Sourav Das and Ashutosh Ranka headed to meet Union Minister J.P. Nadda to discuss the future course of the protest, thousands of demonstrators marched towards Parliament on the opening day of the Monsoon Session, demanding accountability over the NEET paper leak.
Security personnel fired tear gas shells after protesters attempted to breach police barricades and march towards Parliament. Several demonstrators crossed the Raisina Road roundabout and moved towards the Parliament complex before being stopped by security personnel.
“The situation is tense. Protesters marched towards Parliament in large numbers. The crowd was dispersed professionally. More people continue to join the protest,” a senior police officer said.
Volunteers of the CJP also reported tear gas firing near the Constitution Club.The protest gathered significant momentum over the weekend after activist Sonam Wangchuk was removed from the protest site and admitted to Safdarjung Hospital.
Calling the move a “tipping point” and an example of the government’s “high-handedness”, protesters vowed to make the march to Parliament their biggest show of strength.Heavy security has been deployed around Parliament, with additional personnel being rushed to the area, a police source said.
According to sources, protesters attempted to push towards the Parliament complex but were stopped by heavy deployment of the Delhi Police and the Rapid Action Force. More than 300 police personnel have been deployed in and around the high-security zone, with multiple layers of barricading, security screening and anti-riot vehicles in place. Police were also closely monitoring the movement of protesters entering the Capital from neighbouring states, the source added.
Meanwhile, thousands of supporters took whatever routes they could to reach the road leading to Parliament Street police station after being stopped at multiple barricades.
Yet, amid the swelling crowds, there was also a sense of uncertainty. Protesters were unsure about the fate of the movement and waited for the outcome of the talks between the government and the CJP leadership.
Rishabh, 22, an air-conditioner repair technician from Delhi, was among those who joined the protest near Parliament Street. He said he had come to demand accountability and raise questions about the quality of education. “My sister is pursuing a BA in college, and my younger brother is in Class 6. This fight is for their future,” he said.
Alleging that the movement would only grow from here, Rishabh claimed that “people in civil clothes” were assaulting protesters. “Some protesters were beaten with bamboo sticks by the police, but that will not dampen our spirit. This protest will only get bigger,” he said.
(Edited by Tony Rai)