Chaotic scenes engulfed central Delhi on Monday as security forces fired tear gas, resorted to lathi charges and rolled out anti-riot vehicles against protesters marching under the Cockroach Janta Party's (CJP) 'Sansad Chalo' call toward Parliament on the opening day of the Monsoon Session. Several protesters were detained as scuffles broke out through the day, with tensions remaining high across one of the largest security operations the capital has seen in recent months.
The first flashpoint erupted near Jantar Mantar, where thousands of CJP supporters had gathered before setting off toward Parliament. As the march pushed past police barricades, security forces moved in with tear gas shells and lathi charges to force the crowd back, triggering scuffles between protesters and personnel.
The crackdown wasn't confined to one spot. As demonstrators moved through Rail Bhawan, Shastri Bhawan, Constitution Club, Janpath, Connaught Place and the stretch near the RBI, police responded at each location with tear gas and baton charges to hold the crowds back from the high-security zone.
At Rail Bhawan and the Constitution Club, the police response escalated sharply, with heavy use of force to push protesters back and reclaim the barricaded perimeter. Near Connaught Place and the RBI, tensions remained high as crowds regrouped multiple times before being forcibly dispersed, with security forces tightening the cordon around central Delhi through the day.
Authorities deployed more than 5,000 Delhi Police and paramilitary personnel, including Rapid Action Force units, across central Delhi. Anti-riot vehicles, water cannons and multiple layers of barricades were placed around Parliament, while roads leading to the high-security zone were sealed. Access to several Delhi Metro stations was temporarily restricted as a precautionary measure, affecting commuters.
The CJP's 'Sansad Chalo' march was organised to demand education reforms and the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the alleged NEET-UG 2026 paper leak. Opposition leaders joined the protest at Jantar Mantar in support of the demonstrators. The CJP later claimed that the Centre had agreed to hold talks with its representatives. However, there was no official confirmation from the government. Security remained heightened around Parliament as the Monsoon Session continued.
