Page 2 - Jantar Mantar

Memes are the new poetry of resistance. Stop judging them by old rules

The outrage over GenZ memes says less about young protesters than authority's perennial discomfort with unfamiliar forms of political expression

RAF fired multiple munitions, plastic pellets during July 20 protest

An official record of the police action taken during the July 20 'Sansad Chalo' march by protesters on the NEET issue has stated that the RAF fired multiple rounds of non-lethal munitions, including two rounds of plastic pellets, while controlling the mob at one location near Jantar Mantar, officials said on Monday. The incident has been recorded on July 22 at 1:24 PM in the general diary entry of the Parliament Street police station on the information of a Deputy Commandant of the Rapid Action Force (RAF) stating the blue dungaree donning force was on duty in the Zone 1 of the Jantar Mantar area along with a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) rank officer of the Delhi Police, officials told PTI. On the directions of the DCP, according to the officials quoting the police station record, the RAF fired 55 non-electrical shells, 15 electrical shells, five tear smoke grenades, two rounds from the anti-riot guns and two rounds of plastic pellets on July 20. Officials said one round of t

Mere agitation can't justify police excess, says SC on student protests

The Supreme Court said peaceful protest is a constitutional right and observed that mere agitation cannot justify a lathi-charge, while hearing pleas seeking uniform guidelines for protests

Beyond CJP, beyond Delhi: How movement took on a life of its own

Anushka Bhardwaj explains how the campaign became decentralised and spread across India, powered by students, satire, and shared outrage

All 18 Delhi Metro stations reopen after four days as CJP withdraws protest

All 18 Delhi Metro stations in central Delhi, which had remained shut due to security reasons, reopened on Saturday after the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) withdrew its protest, ending four days of restrictions. In a post on X, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) announced that all metro stations were now open and normal entry and exit had resumed. The stations reopened after Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned, after which the CJP announced the withdrawal of its protest and demonstrators began dispersing from the Jantar Mantar area. The stations that had remained closed over the past four days were Lok Kalyan Marg, Rajiv Chowk, Patel Chowk, Ramakrishna Ashram Marg, Barakhambha Road, Supreme Court, Seva Teerth, Janpath, Mandi House, Central Secretariat, ITO, Delhi Gate, Indraprastha, Khan Market, Jor Bagh, Shivaji Stadium, Jhandewalan and New Delhi. The stations had been shut due to security arrangements in central Delhi amid the CJP protest, which drew large ...

Chants, dance fill Jantar Mantar as protesters celebrate Pradhan's exit

Patriotic songs, drumbeats and chants of "Vande Mataram" echoed through Jantar Mantar on Saturday as thousands of protesters erupted in celebration after Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned over the NEET paper leak, calling it the first major victory of their weeks-long agitation. The celebration continued even as, just after the meeting with Union ministers, the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) spokespersons said the agitation was being withdrawn with the government accepting all demands put forth by the outfit. The protest site, which witnessed clashes, tear gas and injuries just days earlier, transformed into a scene of jubilation as protesters hugged one another, waved the tricolour, danced in circles to the song 'Chak De! India' and beat daflis while chanting slogans celebrating democracy and student unity. Many held aloft portraits of Dr B R Ambedkar, while others recorded videos recreating a popular social media meme by pointing first to Pradhan's resignation lett

CJP calls off protest after Pradhan quits, says Centre has accepted demands

The announcement came after another round of talks between CJP representatives and Union ministers Jitendra Singh and J P Nadda at Vithalbhai Patel House

'Our demands accepted': CJP withdraws protest after talks with govt

The party said the Centre had agreed to provide compensation to the families of those who died during the protest in accordance with applicable rules and regulations

CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke diagnosed with typhoid, says protest will go on

Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke on Saturday said he had been diagnosed with typhoid but vowed that his illness would not slow the movement seeking Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation. In a video message shared on social media, Dipke said he had been unwell for the past few days and was currently undergoing treatment. Despite his illness, he thanked CJP supporters for keeping the protests alive across the country and said that the movement would achieve its objective. "As you know, I have been unwell for the last few days. The reports are out and I have been diagnosed with typhoid," he said. Dipke said he was undergoing treatment and receiving intravenous medication. "The treatment is going on. I am getting IV drips every day. But I want to thank all the cockroaches who are protesting peacefully across the country," he said. Congratulating supporters for expanding the movement, Dipke said he believed sustained peaceful protests would help t

18 Delhi Metro stations to remain closed today amid heightened security

Stations will remain shut from 7:30 am, while interchange facilities will continue at Rajiv Chowk, Mandi House and Central Secretariat as security has been intensified around Jantar Mantar

Best of BS Opinion: Nationwide youth protests push govt on to the backfoot

Shyam Saran and Shekhar Gupta examine the crisis in education, R Gopalakrishnan calls for a new enterprise model, and Devangshu Datta weighs social media age bans

Student protests expose deeper flaws in India's growth and education model

The anxieties and aspirations of the youth are an opportunity for a more consequential debate on India's economic trajectory

Metro station closures amid Jantar Mantar protest spark commuter backlash

Repeated closures of metro stations and transport disruptions imposed by authorities in response to the Jantar Mantar protest have triggered backlash from commuters, who took to social media to question why thousands of daily travellers were being inconvenienced. This comes amid the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) announcing on Friday the closure of the New Delhi metro station till further orders, adding to the disruption caused by the shutdown of 17 metro stations in central Delhi for the third consecutive day. The DMRC said in a post on X that the New Delhi metro station had been closed till further instructions and that no interchange facility would be available at the station. The latest closure comes even as 17 metro stations in central Delhi remained shut from 7.30 am on Friday due to security reasons. The closure of the New Delhi metro station, a key interchange connecting the Yellow Line and the Airport Express Line and providing direct access to the New Delhi Railway .

Centre, CJP hold crucial third round of talks on exam irregularities

A crucial meeting between the representatives of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and the government was underway at the Vithalbhai Patel House here on Friday as part of efforts to find an amicable solution to the outfit's demands related to exam irregularities. While the government was represented by Union Health Minister JP Nadda and Minister of State for PMO Jitendra Singh, the CJP was represented by its national spokesperson Saurav Das and another youth. This was the third official meeting between the CJP and the government. Nadda and Das, along with another CJP spokesperson, Ashutosh Ranka, had attended two back-to-back meetings on July 20 at the minister's residence. The meeting is taking place hours after activist Sonam Wangchuk ended his 26-day hunger strike late on Thursday night following government assurances on his key demands. The CJP had earlier declined the government's invitation to hold talks at a minister's residence or office, insisting that discussions should ta

From Gen Z to Boomers, support pours in for Jantar Mantar protest

As the protest over paper leak at Jantar Mantar entered its seventh week on Friday, the movement that began with students is increasingly drawing support from an unlikely quarter -- senior citizens, who say they have joined the agitation because the issue concerns the future of the country's youth. Amid hundreds of Gen Z protesters camping at the site, people in their 50s, 60s and even 70s were seen sitting alongside students, raising slogans, attending meetings and lending support to the demand for reforms in public examinations. Dev Nath Maurya, a 64-year-old farmer from Uttar Pradesh's Raebareli, said he travelled for nearly 12 hours with a group of around 30 people to reach the national capital. "We have not come here for today; we have come here for this country's future. These young kids are our future. What face will I show to my grandchildren when they ask what I was doing while the young ones were trying to bring education reforms?" Maurya told PTI. Ram Avtaar, also in his

Delhi HC to hear PIL against internet shutdown around Jantar Mantar

The Delhi High Court will on Friday hear a public interest litigation (PIL) against internet shutdown around Jantar Mantar, where the CJP is protesting against alleged examination irregularities. The PIL was mentioned for urgent listing before a bench of Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia by the counsel for the petitioner. "This is a PIL against internet shutdown at Jantar Mantar," the lawyer said, urging the bench to take up the matter at 2.30 pm. "Alright," the bench responded. The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has been protesting in the heart of Delhi since June 20, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET paper leak.

CJP set to hold talks with govt after Wangchuk ends hunger strike

The government and the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) are set to hold talks on Friday at the Constitution Club of India here after the Centre "agreed" to the outfit's request that the meeting be held at a neutral venue. There was no official confirmation from the government on it so far. The development comes hours after activist Sonam Wangchuk ended his 26-day hunger strike late on Thursday night following government assurances on his key demands. The meeting is likely to be held around 12.30 pm. CJP national spokesperson Saurav Das said the outfit welcomed the government's decision to "accept its request for a neutral venue". "A discussion has been called. We are very happy that the government has agreed to our request that the meeting should be held at a neutral venue, and the Constitution Club of India has been chosen," Das told reporters. "I hope the government comes with an open mind and listens to the people," he said. The CJP had earlier declined the government's invitation

Removing Dharmendra Pradhan is the 'strictest action': CJP to PM Modi

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has said the "strictest action" the government could take against examination irregularities was to remove Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, reacting to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's announcement that a bill providing for stringent action against paper leaks would be introduced in Parliament. CJP national spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka, in response to the prime minister's remarks, said, "Modi ji, remove Dharmendra Pradhan tomorrow. That's the strictest action you can take." CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke also reacted to the prime minister's announcement by taking to X to share an image of a man locking the gate of a compound with no boundary walls, in an apparent swipe at the proposed legislation. Prime Minister Modi announced on Thursday that a bill providing for strong action against paper leaks would be introduced in Parliament next week after being cleared by the Union Cabinet. He said the government had already taken several steps after ...

Pak-based social media handles spreading rumours amid CJP protests: Police

The Delhi Police on Thursday claimed it has identified more than 480 Pakistan-based social media handles allegedly involved in spreading misinformation amid the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest at Jantar Martar, saying the same accounts had been active during Operation Sindoor. In a post on social media, a Delhi Police official said Pakistan-based social media handles were taking advantage of the prevailing situation to circulate rumours, fake posts and edited videos with the intent of instigating people, particularly students. "We have noticed that misinformation is being circulated on various social media platforms. So far, we have identified over 480 Pakistani social media handles that are taking advantage of the current situation to spread rumours. We are getting these handles blocked. These are the same handles which were active during Operation Sindoor," the officer said. The officer said the primary objective of these accounts is to spread misinformation and provoke peopl

Wangchuk ends hunger strike after govt assures him of meeting his demands

Wangchuk ended his indefinite hunger strike shortly after midnight on Thursday at Medanta Hospital in Gurugram