New Delhi : The National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM) has strongly condemned the police action against students, youth, parents and citizens who participated in a protest at Jantar Mantar and nearby areas in New Delhi on July 20, calling it a “grave assault on democracy” and demanding an independent judicial inquiry into the incident.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, NAPM alleged that thousands of peaceful protesters had gathered to raise concerns over the country’s education and public examination system, including repeated paper leaks, recruitment irregularities, examination cancellations, delays in appointments, and the functioning of the National Testing Agency (NTA). The organisation said the protesters were exercising their constitutional right to peaceful assembly when they were met with excessive police force.
According to NAPM, the student movement also reflects broader concerns over the growing privatisation and commercialisation of education, declining public investment, closure of government schools and increasing barriers to educational access for economically weaker and marginalised sections. The organisation said the demand for accountability, including calls for the resignation of the Union Education Minister, was a legitimate democratic demand.
The statement noted that student protests had continued for nearly a month and included hunger strikes by activist Sonam Wangchuk and student leaders, alleging that the government failed to initiate any meaningful dialogue despite repeated appeals.
NAPM claimed that between 20,000 and 30,000 people assembled on the opening day of Parliament and attempted to march peacefully towards Parliament. It alleged that the Delhi Police responded with tear gas, rubber bullets and lathi charges against unarmed protesters, including women and students, leaving several injured.
The organisation also raised concerns over allegations that unidentified plain-clothes personnel participated in the assault and that modified batons causing serious injuries were used during the police action. It called for these allegations to be examined through an independent and transparent judicial inquiry.
Holding the Union Ministry of Home Affairs politically accountable, NAPM argued that the incident reflects a wider pattern of shrinking democratic space where peaceful protests by farmers, workers, women, Adivasis, Dalits, minorities, environmental activists and students are increasingly met with police action rather than dialogue.
The organisation also expressed concern over what it described as attempts to portray peaceful protesters as violent and warned against the filing of false cases against student leaders and participants.
NAPM has demanded an immediate judicial inquiry into the police action, accountability of officials responsible for ordering and executing the operation, withdrawal of any cases filed against peaceful protesters, compensation and medical assistance for the injured, an independent inquiry into the functioning of the National Testing Agency and the public examination system, structural reforms in examination and recruitment processes, meaningful dialogue with student representatives, and protection of citizens’ constitutional right to peaceful protest.
Reaffirming its solidarity with the student movement, NAPM said democratic governments must respond to public grievances through dialogue and institutional reforms rather than repression. It asserted that peaceful dissent is a constitutional right and an essential pillar of democracy.
