The political confrontation over the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest deepened on Tuesday as Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) president Sharad Pawar visited Jantar Mantar in a show of support for the ongoing student agitation. His visit came amid a series of developments that kept the protest at the centre of national politics.
The Congress simultaneously intensified its campaign against the Centre, with Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and several MPs marching towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence to protest the police action during Monday’s demonstration. The party reiterated its demand for Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation over the alleged examination irregularities.
Police intervened during the protest near Lok Kalyan Marg and detained several Congress leaders. Reacting to the action, senior Congress MP K. Suresh alleged that opposition MPs were being prevented from raising the issue of students allegedly injured during the protest, while party leader Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa criticised the police action, questioning the treatment meted out to elected representatives.
In another major development, the Cockroach Janta Party announced the removal of its spokesperson Vijeta Dahiya from all official responsibilities. The party said videos showing Dahiya during the period when protesters were allegedly facing police action reflected conduct that was inconsistent with the organisation’s principles, prompting disciplinary action.
The issue also continued to disrupt Parliament, with repeated opposition protests forcing both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha to adjourn for the day.
Meanwhile, the Delhi High Court declined to grant an urgent hearing on a petition seeking immediate intervention over the alleged use of force during the CJP’s ‘Chalo Sansad’ march. A division bench observed that the matter would be taken up on Wednesday, declining to hear it on an urgent basis.
The latest developments indicate that the controversy surrounding the CJP protest has expanded beyond the streets, triggering political mobilisation, parliamentary disruption and legal proceedings simultaneously.
Q1. Why did Sharad Pawar visit Jantar Mantar?
Sharad Pawar visited the CJP protest site as the student agitation continued in Delhi.
Q2. Why were Congress MPs detained?
Congress leaders were detained while protesting near Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence over the police action against CJP protesters.
Q3. Why did CJP remove Vijeta Dahiya?
The party said his conduct, reflected in viral videos during the protest, was inconsistent with its values and removed him from all official responsibilities.
Q4. What happened in Parliament?
Both Houses were adjourned after opposition protests over the handling of the student agitation.
Q5. What did the Delhi High Court decide?
The High Court declined an urgent hearing on a plea concerning the alleged use of force during the protest and listed the matter for Wednesday.
