Delhi Police underestimated the scale of CJP march to Parliament
The Delhi Police appears to have underestimated how quickly protestors mobilised for the march to the Parliament called by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) on Monday, 20 July. Although the Delhi Police claimed professional, restrained action against protestors, reports say nearly 180 people were injured on both sides, showing that things got out of control. This was less an intelligence failure than a clash between the usual protest-management approach and real youth anger over ongoing education problems.
The CJP has been holding a sit-in and hunger strike at Jantar Mantar since June 6. By mid-July, the protest had become a regular event. Their main demands include removal of the Union Minister of Education, Dharmendra Pradhan, compensation for families of deceased aspirants (including Rs 1 crore) and exam reforms. The movement has attracted students, left-leaning student groups like SFI and AISA, and support from the Opposition. The police had granted limited permissions earlier, but then revoked them or made them stricter as tensions grew.
On Monday, the police denied permission for the CJP’s planned march to the Parliament. The police also imposed prohibitory orders under Section 163 BNSS, closed five metro stations, including Janpath and Rajiv Chowk, deployed about 3,000 security personnel with several barricades and shut down the internet in central Delhi even as thousands gathered at Jantar Mantar, with estimates ranging from several thousand to over 10,000.
Most of the crowd were students and youngsters. They broke through barricades and got close to the Press Club and Parliament, which led to baton charge and the use of tear gas by the police.
The police claims protesters engaged in stone pelting, damaging 15 to 20 Government vehicles while creating a law-and-order problem. Delhi Police reported 118 personnel injured, including senior officers and women constables.
The march was expected, but the size and speed of the crowd took the police by surprise. Reports say Delhi Police were “outnumbered and taken aback” when thousands reached near Parliament, calling it an “unprecedented turn.”
Sources said Delhi Police were prepared and aware, but they underestimated how strongly the protest would resonate and how determined the crowd would be. Intelligence probably tracked the main agitators and planned actions, but missed or downplayed the wider anger among students tired of exam scams and official indifference.
Monday showed there was a big difference between what was expected and how many people actually turned up. It proved that force alone cannot quell frustration stemming from long-standing problems. The protesters were much harder to stop than expected.
