CJP faces heat as protesters left stranded after agitation
Even as the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) declared victory and called off its month-long agitation at Jantar Mantar following Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation and the Government’s acceptance of its key demands on Saturday, criticism has mounted over the fate of volunteers and protesters allegedly left behind after the movement ended.
By Monday evening, the protest site at Jantar Mantar had been completely cleared. The tents were gone, walls bearing graffiti and protest slogans had been repainted, and there was little to indicate that the venue had hosted one of the capital’s longest-running student-led agitations. But even as the site returned to normal, concerns emerged over several protesters, volunteers and journalists who had travelled to Delhi for the agitation and were reportedly left stranded without money, food or accommodation.
Independent politician and author Meghnad, who had been a regular presence at the protest, returned to Jantar Mantar on Sunday despite the CJP leadership having vacated the site. According to posts shared on his social media accounts, he found several volunteers, protesters and local journalists unable to return home due to financial constraints. Meghnad said he personally helped some of them before appealing for support through an Instagram reel, following which several people came forward with monetary assistance. Those stranded were also provided temporary accommodation at the Indian Youth Congress office in Raisina Hill.
Meghnad also wrote on his social media pages that volunteer help desks had been set up at New Delhi and Hazrat Nizamuddin railway stations to assist stranded protesters and volunteers. According to him, those carrying valid identity and travel documents were being helped with arrangements to return to their hometowns as efforts continued to support those left without resources after the protest concluded.
The developments have triggered criticism of the CJP on social media, with users accusing the organisation of abandoning those who had participated in the month-long movement. The criticism intensified after videos surfaced showing CJP chief spokesperson Sourav Das and Ashutosh Ranka celebrating what they described as the movement’s victory with some volunteers in Delhi.
Several social media users also questioned the timing of the celebrations, pointing out that some protesters were allegedly still being picked up and questioned by state police over their involvement in the demonstrations.
Responding to the criticism, Das defended the celebratory videos in a post on X, saying they reflected the culture of a younger generation of activists. “It just goes to show that the Government and godi anchors simply do not understand the language of Gen Z and younger generations.
“We can sit on the road for as long as it takes. We can protest while dancing. We can organise while sipping cold coffee. We can fight for change without looking the way previous generations think a movement should look (no shade on anyone!).
“That’s just how this generation is. Confident, creative, resilient, and impossible to stereotype. “The uncles and aunties can keep complaining. They’ll just have to deal with us!”
While the CJP has defended its conduct, the episode has shifted attention from the movement’s declared success to questions over its responsibility towards supporters who remained in Delhi after the protest concluded. As the physical traces of the agitation disappear from Jantar Mantar, the debate surrounding its aftermath continues online.
