Central Delhi witnessed dramatic scenes on the opening day of the monsoon session of Parliament on Monday as thousands of protesters participating in the Cockroach Janta Party's (CJP) 'Sansad Chalo' march were stopped by security forces less than 200mtrs (metres) from Parliament. Police resorted to tear gas shells and baton-charge after protesters attempted to push through barricades in the high-security zone, while a delegation of the protest organisers later met Union minister of health JP Nadda to press their demands.
The march, organised by the CJP to seek accountability for alleged irregularities in competitive examinations and broader education reforms, drew participants from student organisations including AISA, KYS and SFI, as well as professionals and youth groups. Protesters began assembling at Jantar Mantar despite heavy rain and extensive security arrangements across central Delhi.
Delhi Police had denied permission for the march towards Parliament and imposed prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita in the area. Multiple roads leading to Parliament were barricaded, while access to several Delhi Metro stations, including Janpath, Patel Chowk, Rajiv Chowk, Central Secretariat and Seva Teerth, was temporarily restricted as part of security measures. Some metro stations were reopened later in the day.
The situation escalated around 11.15am when a large group of protesters broke through a major barricade outside the Parliament street police station and advanced towards Parliament. According to police sources, another attempt to breach multiple barricades followed around 11.25am, triggering a confrontation between protesters and security personnel.
Police responded by firing tear gas shells and using batons to disperse the crowd. Protesters were halted near Raisina Road, just a short distance from Parliament. Several demonstrators sustained injuries during the baton charge. First aid was administered at the protest site. Some police personnel also reportedly suffered minor injuries during the scuffle.
As security personnel pushed protesters back from Parliament Street and Rafi Marg, hundreds of demonstrators staged a sit-in before being detained. Many later regrouped on the India Gate lawns after being dispersed, where police vehicles entered the area to clear the gathering.
Videos circulating on social media captured dramatic moments from the confrontation, including one showing a protester standing in front of police personnel repeatedly saying, 'Maaro sir, maaro', while refusing to move, despite the advancing security forces.
Throughout the day, the Cockroach Janta Party accused authorities of using excessive force against what it described as a peaceful demonstration. In a series of social media posts, the organisation criticised the use of tear gas near Parliament and alleged that internet services had been disrupted in parts of Delhi, making it difficult for protesters to communicate and share updates.
The organisation also posted videos purportedly showing security personnel taking positions around Parliament, urging authorities not to use force against young protesters. The authorities did not immediately confirm the claims regarding internet restrictions.
Amid the protests, a delegation led by CJP spokespersons Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das held discussions with Union health minister Nadda at his residence.
According to the CJP leaders, they presented three key demands before the minister. They sought the immediate release of activist Sonam Wangchuk and permission for him to address protesters through a video message, the resignation or removal of Union minister of education Dharmendra Pradhan, and compensation of ₹1 crore each for the families of students who allegedly died by suicide following the NEET-UG paper leak.
Mr Ranka said the delegation met Mr Nadda after waiting for more than two hours and held two rounds of discussions. According to him, the minister assured them only that he would place their demands before the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leadership and that he would communicate the government's decision after internal consultations.
Mr Das also said that while the demands had been conveyed to the government, no commitment had been made to accept maintained that the protest would continue until action was taken, particularly on the demand for Mr Pradhan's removal.
Later, Mr Nadda confirmed that discussions had taken place after the protesters approached the government for talks. In a post on X, he said discussions with the delegation had begun around 11.50am in a cordial atmosphere and that a written memorandum had been submitted around 4pm. He appealed to protesters to end their sit-in and cooperate with the administration in restoring normalcy.
The Parliament march also unfolded against the backdrop of developments concerning environmental activist Sonam Wangchuk, who has been on a hunger strike in support of the movement demanding accountability over alleged failures in the education system.
Earlier in the day, Mr Wangchuk wrote to the medical superintendent of Safdarjung Hospital requesting permission to leave the hospital, even temporarily, to participate in the Parliament march, stating that he felt healthy and that his medical parameters were normal. He also maintained that his fast would continue until the government accepted responsibility for examination-related failures or members of Parliament assured him that the issue would be raised during the Monsoon session.
His supporters alleged that Mr Wangchuk remained under illegal detention at the hospital with restrictions on his movement and communication, while Delhi police have maintained that he was admitted on medical grounds after his health deteriorated during his hunger strike.
The Delhi High Court, hearing the matter on Monday, sought Mr Wangchuk's latest medical status after noting reports indicating elevated creatinine and blood urea levels. The Court directed doctors to collect fresh samples in the presence of his wife and brother and observed that its foremost concern was to protect his life. During the hearing, Mr Wangchuk's counsel argued that a hunger strike is a constitutionally recognised form of peaceful protest, while solicitor general Tushar Mehta submitted that although Mr Wangchuk had the right to protest, the State also had a duty to ensure that his health did not deteriorate further.
The protests also spread beyond the national capital. In Mumbai, a group of students attempted to stage a demonstration near Chaityabhoomi, demanding the resignation of Union education minister Pradhan. Anticipating the protest, Mumbai police tightened security in the area and detained the students before taking them to Shivaji Park police station.
The day ended without any breakthrough on the protesters' demands, although channels of communication between the organisers and the government remained open after the meeting with Mr Nadda. Meanwhile, security remained heightened around Parliament as the Monsoon session commenced amid one of the largest student-led protests witnessed in the capital in recent months.
