Page 3 - Protest

MNS, Shiv Sena UBT join Mumbai protests to back CJP after crackdown

For second straight day, Mumbai witnessed protests by Opposition parties and others on Tuesday in support of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), which is seeking the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, and to denounce police crackdown on its stir in Delhi. Thousands of people participated in a march to Parliament on Monday called by the CJP on the first day of the Monsoon session to push for the resignation of Pradhan over the NEET fiasco, but were prevented by Delhi Police from moving ahead, leading to violent clashes and stone pelting. Police used batons and tear gas to disperse marchers. The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) staged a protest at Shivaji Park in Dadar, central Mumbai, in which party president Raj Thackeray's wife Sharmila also participated. The Shiv Sena (UBT) held a separate demonstration in the Dongri area. An elderly man at the Shivaji Park protest site told reporters that he travelled from Nivali in Akola district of east Maharashtra to Mum

Samyukt Kisan Morcha to hold countrywide protests against trade pacts

The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) has announced nationwide protests on Wednesday against the proposed India-US Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and other trade pacts, and written to President Droupadi Murmu, urging her to intervene to stop the Centre from signing the agreements. In an open letter to the president, the farmers' body has urged her to "instruct Prime Minister Narendra Modi not to sign the India-US Free Trade Agreement, repeal all signed FTAs and ensure discussion in Parliament" on their impact on the country's economy, self-reliance and sovereignty. "The FTAs, negotiated in secrecy and under corporate pressure, are a profound betrayal of India's national interest.... A blueprint for economic colonisation," the SKM has said in the letter, claiming that the agreements would devastate crores of small and marginal farmers and adversely affect the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) sector. The organisation has claimed that the proposed trade deals would allow subsidised ...

Govt wasted our time: Abhijeet Dipke on talks between Nadda and CJP team

Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke on Tuesday questioned the government's design behind starting talks with his outfit, saying it was engaging in dialogue with CJP while simultaneously carrying out a police crackdown on protesters. "The government wasted our time. They invited our delegation. They seized their mobiles. Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das were, in a way, under house arrest at J P Nadda's residence," Dipke said addressing supporters at Jantar Mantar, where the protest over the NEET paper leak issue entered its 32nd day. "The whole plan was to scatter the team, so that when there is chaos, no one is there. That is why they kept them sitting for five hours and wasted our time. You call for talks on one hand, and unleash batons on students on the other hand," he alleged. The Centre has not responded to the allegations. In the first direct contact between the Centre and agitating CJP, Union Health Minister JP Nadda on Monday held talks with two representatives

CJP removes Vijeta Dahiya as spokesperson after 'insensitive' burger video

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on Tuesday removed its spokesperson Vijeta Dahiya from the post after a video surfaced showing him eating a burger during the police crackdown on the outfit's 'Chalo Sansad' march. In a statement, the CJP said Dahiya's conduct was inconsistent with the values of the movement. Responding to the criticism, Dahiya said people didn't see that he had not slept for two nights just like those who were at the protest site. "You hold me accountable as if it is my job to be a protester." The CJP has condemned the "deeply insensitive actions" of Dahiya. "We strongly condemn the deeply insensitive actions of our spokesperson Vijeta Dahiya, whose videos surfaced while peaceful protestors and our team were facing brutal police violence. Such conduct is unacceptable, shows a complete lack of judgment, and is wholly inconsistent with the values and principles of our movement," the statement said. "In response, we are removing Vijeta Dahiya as spokesperson of the ..

Pawar, Kejriwal, other Oppn leaders visit Jantar Mantar after CJP crackdown

Several opposition leaders including NCP (SP) president Sharad Pawar and AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal visited the Cockroach Janta Party's protest site at Jantar Mantar here on Tuesday, a day after the police crackdown on its 'Sansad Chalo' march, and extended support to the agitation over alleged irregularities in competitive examinations. Pawar, accompanied by party MP Supriya Sule, met injured protesters and members of the movement and condemned the police action during Monday's attempted march to Parliament. Among other political leaders who visited the protest site were Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs Sanjay Raut and Arvind Sawant, Rajya Sabha MP Mahua Maji, AAP leader Gopal Rai, Kerala Congress (M) leader Jose K Mani, and a delegation of parliamentarians from Left parties. According to a statement issued by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), Pawar said the voices of students demanding a fair and transparent examination system could not be silenced through force and assured that the NCP (SP) wou

Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka detained after sit-in protest outside PM's residence

Police detained several Opposition leaders, including Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, while clearing a protest backing students' demands over the NEET-UG paper leak

Rahul, Kharge stage sit-in protest outside PM's house, demand resignation

Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, accompanied by party chief Mallikarjun Kharge and several top leaders, sat on a protest dharna outside the Prime Minister's Lok Kalyan Marg residence on Tuesday and demanded the resignation of PM Narendra Modi over police action against students protesting on the NEET paper leak issue. After nearly 20 minutes, Minister of State in Prime Minister's Office (PMO) Jitendra Singh met Gandhi at the protest site and urged him to end his dharna. The unprecedented scenes unfolded soon after Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra met the injured students at a hospital here. Singh was accompanied by Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan at the protest site. Gandhi, along with Kharge and chief ministers of Karnataka D K Shivakumar and Kerala CM V D Satheesan, besides several Congress MPs, raised slogans against the Prime Minister outside his residence. Several MPs also accused the police of using force .

Abhijeet Dipke will contest on Bhim Army ticket in future: Nishikant Dubey

BJP MP Nishikant Dubey on Tuesday claimed that Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke would contest elections on a Bhim Army ticket in the future, as every mass movement produces political leaders. This movement, however, still considers Prime Minister Narendra Modi its leader and looks to him for solving its issues, said the MP from Godda in Jharkhand. "Every movement has produced political leaders. The JP movement produced leaders, including Lalu Prasad Yadav. Arvind Kejriwal also emerged from Anna Hazare's movement," Dubey told reporters in the Parliament House complex. "Abhijeet Dipke may also contest elections in the future. Even in Nepal, those associated with the Gen Z movement eventually joined a political party. Similarly, Abhijeet Dipke will join a political party. I can say with certainty that he will contest elections on a Bhim Army ticket," he said. Thousands joined the Cockroach Janta Party's (CJP) "Chalo Sansad" march on Monday to demand the resignation of Unio

Rahul demands PM's apology, Shah's resignation over CJP protest crackdown

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi must apologise to students for the police brutality against them and resign along with Home Minister Amit Shah. Speaking with reporters in Parliament House complex, Gandhi said he met Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla in the morning along with other MPs and conveyed that the opposition wants to discuss the students issue. "He (Birla) said he will have to ask the government. So, the Speaker is telling us that to debate in Parliament he has to take permission from the government," Gandhi said. "The issue is of students and the way people are being beaten up, this is completely 'unIndian'. Modi ji has not even apologised for what has happened yesterday," the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha said. These students are protesting over the education and testing system, he said. "The whole country knows that the education system and the testing system is broken and has ceased to exist," he said. Thousands of

Shameful chapter: Congress slams govt over police action on CJP protesters

The Congress on Tuesday said the police action against protesters during the "Sansad Chalo" march over irregularities in examinations is a "shameful chapter" in the list of injustices inflicted upon the youth by the government. The opposition party warned that those who beat the country's youth under orders from people in power will one day have to face the "lathi" of the Constitution. Opposition parties had launched a blistering attack on the government over the police action against the Cockroach Janta Party-led "Sansad Chalo" march, with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday dubbing Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the "most anti-youth" prime minister in the country's history. The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) accused the Delhi Police of using excessive force against protesters to prevent them from reaching Parliament, alleging that several students were injured and activist Sonam Wangchuk's wife Gitanjali J Angmo was pushed around. Delhi Police, however, denied that Angmo was ...

118 personnel injured, 70 protesters detained in CJP protest: Delhi Police

More than 118 police personnel, including several senior officers, were injured and around 70 protesters were detained on Monday, as Cockroach Janta Party's (CJP) "Sansad Chalo" protest march turned violent in the New Delhi area, police said. Delhi Police released a statement mentioning these figures and their account, accusing protesters of displaying "unruly, aggressive and violent behaviour" during the protest and attacking security personnel, damaging government vehicles and public property. "During today's protest by CJP in the New Delhi area, the protesters displayed unruly, aggressive and violent behaviour. Despite repeated warnings and lawful directions issued by the police, they refused to disperse and deliberately violated the prohibitory orders in force," read the police statement. The protesters attacked police personnel with stones and other objects, attempted to breach police barricades, vandalised police and other government vehicles, damaged public property, and ...

Sonam Wangchuk to continue fast, cites police action against CJP protesters

Activist Sonam Wangchuk announced on Monday that he would continue his indefinite hunger strike, saying the police action against protesters during the Cockroach Janta Party's (CJP) "Sansad Chalo" march has prompted him to extend the fast until youth leaders are allowed to meet parliamentarians or he is permitted to do so from the hospital. In a handwritten statement issued from the Safdarjung Hospital, Wangchuk said, "Seeing the brutality with which peacefully protesting youth are being dealt with, I have decided to continue my fast until the youth leaders are allowed to meet the parliamentarians at the Sansad Bhawan or I am allowed to meet them here at the hospital." "Hopefully, the government will fix accountability for the Education Minister before that," he added. Wangchuk said he is "touched and moved" by the manner in which the protesters have maintained peace despite "provocation". "I appeal to the government and the police force to resolve the issue by simply allowing the

NC says govt promise unfulfilled, stages protest in Delhi for J-K statehood

Escalating the political showdown over Jammu and Kashmir's political status, National Conference president Farooq Abdullah, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, ministers, MLAs and party workers staged a protest in the national capital on Monday, demanding the immediate restoration of statehood to the Union Territory. The demonstration, held on the opening day of Parliament's Monsoon Session, was, however, overshadowed by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) protest march to Parliament. Omar, who arrived from Jammu in the morning, was unable to reach the protest venue at Jantar Mantar due to the heavy deployment of police personnel for the CJP protest. The group of around 100 NC protesters gathered with placards reading "Apna wada pura karo" (fulfil your promise) and "Restore full statehood," raising slogans targeting the Union government over the delay in restoring statehood. The chief minister later tried to reach the Constitution Club, where a seminar on statehood was ...

Several CJP protesters detained at key locations during march to Parliament

Several protesters were detained and removed from multiple locations across the New Delhi district on Monday as forces stepped up action to prevent demonstrators from assembling and marching towards Parliament, sources said. Detentions were made from areas such as Mandi House, Patel Chowk, Janpath, Jantar Mantar, Parliament Street and other key locations where the protesting groups attempted to gather despite heightened security arrangements and prohibitory orders being in force, they said. At least seven people were detained near the Reserve Bank of India, close to Parliament. Those detained were being taken to different locations across the national capital, away from the protest site, to prevent them from regrouping and disrupting law and order, sources said. They will be released after being issued warnings, a source said, adding that police would verify the antecedents of those detained to ascertain whether any of them had previous criminal records. Security remained tight ac

Amid CJP protest march in Delhi, Dharmendra Pradhan meets Amit Shah

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan met Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday, as thousands tried to march to Parliament as part of the Cockroach Janta Party's (CJP) protest call to demand the former's resignation over alleged examination irregularities. Officials said Pradhan met Shah at his office in the Parliament House complex. It was not immediately known what transpired in the meeting. The CJP, led by its founder Abhijeet Dipke, has been protesting at Jantar Mantar since June 20, demanding Pradhan's resignation over alleged irregularities in the NEET examination, reforms in the examination system and justice for the affected students. The outfit had given the call for the "Chalo Sansad" march on Monday, the opening day of Parliament's Monsoon session. Thousands converged at Jantar Mantar on Monday morning and tried to march towards Parliament, pushing through barricades and braving police batons and tear gas. Security has been tightened across New Delhi district, w

Forces use lathicharge, tear gas as CJP protesters march to Parliament

Delhi Police used sticks and batons to disperse hundreds of students and youth activists marching from Mandi House Metro Station towards Jantar Mantar in an attempt to reach the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest site on Monday, eyewitnesses said. The protesters, including a large number of women, raised slogans against the Centre while proceeding towards Jantar Mantar. Heavy deployment of Delhi Police personnel was seen in the area as police sought to prevent the march from advancing. There was no immediate official statement from the police on the reported use of force or any detentions.

Can CJP-led protest at Jantar Mantar outgrow its dependence on Wangchuk?

As Sonam Wangchuk's hunger strike galvanises support, the CJP faces a defining test over whether its movement can sustain momentum beyond its strongest symbol

Sonam Wangchuk's hunger strike enters Day 19: Here's what's happening

Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk has been on an indefinite hunger strike at Delhi's Jantar Mantar in support of the CJP's demands over alleged NeetT irregularities, exam reforms and accountability

Farmers take out motorcycle marches against India-US trade deal in Punjab

Punjab farmers protest against the proposed India-US trade deal, warning that lower import duties could hurt agriculture, dairy and rural livelihoods

Kukis call protest, shutdown in Manipur's Churachandpur ahead of CM's visit

Ahead of Manipur BJP MLA Vungzagin Valte's last rites, hundreds of Kukis took to the streets of Churachandpur district on Saturday morning protesting Chief Minister Y Khemchand Singh's visit, officials said. At least six Kuki organisations boycotted the visit of Singh to the Kuki-Zo majority district, demanding a permanent resolution to the simmering ethnic conflict in the state. Markets remained closed, and vehicles remained off the streets in the district headquarters, following a shutdown call given by an armed group. Dozens of protesters also gathered at the Tedim road near the Kaprang area to block the route from Imphal to Churachandpur. Around 11 pm on Friday, armed people fired several rounds in the air near the Jalengphai area in Churachandpur district bordering the valley district of Bishnupur. In a statement, Kuki organisations, including Kuki Students Organisation, Kuki Inpi Churachandpur and Kuki Women Union, under the banner of Kuki Civil Society Organisation, said, "T