CJP calls for nationwide protest tomorrow against 'police brutality'

In a poster shared on social media, the Cockroach Janta Party appealed to supporters to organise coordinated protests under the slogan, "Every District. One Day. One Demand." It also directed local organisers to coordinate with student unions and civil society groups, obtain the necessary permissions and ensure that all demonstrations remain peaceful.CJP calls for nationwide protests amid Centre's push for talks (Photo: PTI)The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has called for nationwide protests on Friday against alleged police brutality during recent demonstrations over the alleged NEET-UG 2026 paper leak. The outfit has urged supporters, student unions and civil society groups to organise peaceful protests in every district even as the Centre stepped up efforts to break the deadlock through dialogue.The call follows violent clashes during the CJP's 'Chalo Sansad' march in Delhi and police action against protesters in several states, developments that the organisation says have strengthened its resolve to expand the agitation beyond the national capital. While protesters have accused security personnel of using excessive force, Delhi Police has maintained that demonstrators turned violent, attacked police personnel and damaged public property during the march.Launching the campaign under the slogan "Every District. One Day. One Demand.", the CJP asked local organisers to coordinate with student unions and civil society groups, obtain the necessary permissions and ensure that all demonstrations remain peaceful.SOLIDARITY WITH INJURED PROTESTERSAs part of the nationwide mobilisation, the organisation has circulated a standard operating procedure (SOP), campaign material and a memorandum template for local organisers. According to the guidelines, protesters have been asked to assemble at designated locations, publicly read out the students' demands, express solidarity with those allegedly subjected to police brutality during recent demonstrations and submit memorandums to district authorities.The nationwide campaign marks the CJP's biggest attempt yet to take the agitation beyond Delhi, where protesters have been camping at Jantar Mantar since June 20, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and accountability for the alleged examination irregularities. The movement gathered momentum after activist Sonam Wangchuk joined the protest and launched an indefinite hunger strike in support of the students' demands.PROTESTS ESCALATE AFTER CLASHES Until this week, the agitation at Jantar Mantar had remained relatively limited in scale, with students and activists holding daily demonstrations. The movement, however, took a dramatic turn after Monday's confrontation between protesters and police.In the days that followed, the crowds swelled significantly, with many first-time participants joining the sit-in. CJP organisers said they could no longer estimate the turnout, while several demonstrators claimed that videos of the police action had prompted them to travel to Delhi and join the protest.As the agitation gathered momentum, numerous videos showing clashes between demonstrators and security personnel circulated widely on social media. Some clips appeared to show police using batons, tear gas and physical force to disperse protesters, while others showed groups of protesters hurling stones, throwing bottles and confronting police personnel. With both sides accusing each other of triggering the violence, the circumstances surrounding several of the clashes remain disputed, and many of the viral videos continue to be scrutinised for their authenticity and context.Fresh violence erupted on Wednesday evening when clashes broke out again near Jantar Mantar. According to Delhi Police, a group of "miscreants" pelted stones and bottles at security personnel near Tolstoy Marg, injuring five cops. Police responded by deploying the Rapid Action Force (RAF), using limited force and firing tear gas shells to disperse the crowd. Protest organisers, however, alleged that the police once again used excessive force against demonstrators.CENTRE RENEWS TALKS OFFEREven as the protests are set to spread nationwide, the Centre has stepped up efforts to bring the CJP leadership to the negotiating table.Union Health Minister JP Nadda reiterated on Thursday that the government remained open to talks, saying the outfit's representatives could meet him either at his official residence or office. "Yes, we are ready to talk with CJP," Nadda said.The CJP, however, rejected the invitation for the second consecutive day. "We refused to go to anyone's house or office. The people's court is here. Ministers should come among the people. If they want to talk, it should be held at the Jantar Mantar," CJP chief spokesperson Saurav Das said.He, however, added that the organisation remained open to holding discussions at a neutral venue close to the protest site if security concerns were cited.Union Minister Jitendra Singh said the government had sent four formal proposals to the CJP since Wednesday afternoon, stressing that the Centre was prepared to discuss all issues raised by the protesters."The government has sent formal proposals for discussions with their representatives four times since last afternoon. This is a standing invitation to all our young friends. The government is ready for discussions on all issues at your convenience, at any place and any time. We do not stand on prestige," Singh said.'PRADHAN'S RESIGNATION NON-NEGOTIABLE'Despite the government's renewed outreach, the CJP has refused to soften its stand, insisting that Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation remains its principal demand. "Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation is non-negotiable. Without this, the protest will continue. It will continue for as long as it has to," Das said.The Centre's latest outreach comes a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi made his first public remarks on the agitation, announcing that fast-track courts would be set up to ensure speedy trials in paper leak cases."Nothing is more important than the welfare and future of our youth," the Prime Minister said in a post on X, adding that those responsible for compromising students' futures "will not be spared."- EndsPublished By: Priyanka KumariPublished On: Jul 23, 2026 18:24 IST