Meet us here, CJP tells govt. as crowd swells at Jantar Mantar

CJP supporters protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on July 22, 2026. | Photo Credit: SHASHI SHEKHAR KASHYAP Thousands of people continued to pour into the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest site at Jantar Mantar in the heart of Delhi on Wednesday (July 22, 2026), while hundreds more protested outside the entrance towards Sansad Marg.CJP chief spokesperson Saurav Das told the media that the police informed them that that Union Minister J.P. Nadda wanted to speak to them. “They invited us to his residence, but we categorically declined. We are not going to anyone’s house or office. A janata darbar [people’s meet] is being held here, and if the Ministers want to talk, they should come to the people,” he said.However, he added that if the government was concerned about security at the protest site, CJP representatives were willing to meet at a neutral venue near Jantar Mantar, but they were still waiting to hear back from the government.The CJP also requested activist Sonam Wangchuk to end his fast. “Your sacrifice has inspired a generation. We respectfully request you to end your fast and take care of your health. We promise that the fight for examination justice will continue with even greater strength until our demands are met,” the CJP said in an open letter to Mr. Wangchuk.At the protest site, the tents that were pulled down by the security forces on Monday (July 20, 2026) evening and reassembled by the protesters on Tuesday (July 21, 2026) were further strengthened on Wednesday. More posters were also hung at the site calling for Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation and attacking the Prime Minister. Dozens of youth came with handwritten posters and printouts with slogans against the government.As the crowd swelled, from the main dais, announcements were made multiple times to maintain peace. Appeals were made to raise only slogans demanding Mr. Pradhan’s resignation and not any abusive slogans.Injured, but not scaredSome people came for the protest with visible injuries sustained in police action.Sachin Rawat, 27, with open wounds on his forehead and arms, said he was injured the day the police forcibly removed Mr. Wangchuk. “They pushed me and I fell down. I didn’t come after that as I was resting, but I came back today. The system should change. Dharmendra Pradhan ko resign karna padega [Pradhan has to quit],” he said.At the end of the main protest area, Akhilesh Pratap Singh, 22, and others were distributing sandals to people whose lost or damaged theirs during the march or at the protest site. “I work as a cashier at a store in a mall, but have taken leave for the last six days. Till the issue is resolved I will be here,” he said, adding that he was also hit twice with lathis on Monday (July 20, 2026), but still came back.“When I turned 18, I gave my first vote for BJP. But I don’t support them anymore. The education system should get better. Modi has been silent on how the students were beaten up by police. The government should change,” Mr. Singh, who is studying B.Com through distance education, said.Karan Kumar, 29, who came to the protest site for the first time on Wednesday (July 22, 2026) said it had become a platform for people to vent their anger. “Government schools and education is bad and we can’t get any government jobs. What is the point of staying in this country then? All these Ministers and MLAs... their children are studying abroad only and not here as the system is bad. But if we say anything, we will be called Pakistani. People are frustrated,” Mr. Kumar said.Around 8 p.m., hundreds of people continued to flow into the protest site amid chants of “isteefa dho, isteefa dho [resign]” and revolutionary songs, and drum beats, as the site prepared for another night of protests. Published - July 22, 2026 11:17 pm IST