The protest by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan entered its second day at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on Sunday. However, a senior Delhi Police official stated that the gathering had become an “unauthorised” assembly after the protest permission expired.
Permission Expired, Police Issue Warning
According to the official, the permission granted for the protest expired at 5 pm on June 20, and the organisers were not vacating the site despite repeated requests. “The permission ended on Saturday. We have put up posters at the entry and exit points informing people that this is an unauthorised gathering,” the official said.
The police deployed personnel from three nearby police stations at the site and kept an arresting team on standby. A water cannon was also positioned, as learned by The Tribune. Warning posters at the gates stated: “You are hereby informed that the time granted to you for the protest has expired. You are requested to end your protest. Otherwise, appropriate legal action will be initiated against you.”
Protesters Defy Warning, Vow to Continue
Despite the warning, CJP members remained at the site throughout Sunday. Speaking to The Tribune, they said they would continue their protest and maintain their stand until Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigns. The CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke addressed supporters during the protest, which began on Saturday.
Background of the Protest
The CJP, a political party, has been demanding the resignation of Pradhan over alleged issues in the education sector. The protest at Jantar Mantar, a traditional protest site in Delhi, started on June 20 and intensified the following day. The Delhi Police’s action underscores the tension between the right to protest and adherence to legal permissions.
