Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi
New Delhi, Jul 21: The Chhatra Jawan Party (CJP) has announced that its protest demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan will continue, with another march to Parliament planned despite violent clashes with police on Monday.
Responding to questions on whether the march would continue on Tuesday, CJP leader Abhijeet Dipke told protesters from the stage, "We will march again. We are not leaving this protest site at Jantar Mantar."
The protesters have been camping at Jantar Mantar since June 6, demanding Pradhan's resignation. Educationist and activist Sonam Wangchuk had been on an indefinite hunger strike at the site before being detained and shifted to Safdarjung Hospital.
Standing in heavy rain alongside other party leaders, Dipke led a human chain and raised slogans, reaffirming the party's resolve to continue the agitation.
CJP functionaries said the protest would continue until the Union Education Minister resigns. They added that discussions on the next phase of the Parliament march were still underway and that the party would soon issue an official statement outlining its future course of action.
The CJP and Wangchuk had called for the "Sansad Chalo" march from Jantar Mantar to Parliament on the opening day of the Monsoon Session. Thousands of protesters participated in the march seeking Pradhan's resignation.
The demonstration turned violent near Parliament after police used tear gas shells and resorted to a lathicharge to disperse protesters amid incidents of stone-pelting. While videos circulated online showing injured protesters, Delhi Police said more than 118 of its personnel were also injured during the clashes.
Despite heavy rain and the day's violence, the protest site at Jantar Mantar remained crowded late into the night, with around a thousand protesters and a large deployment of police personnel maintaining a tense atmosphere.
A police officer said security arrangements would remain unchanged if protesters attempted another march, adding that barricades would be reinstalled.
Meanwhile, Delhi Police has begun registering multiple FIRs and is examining CCTV footage and mobile phone videos to determine whether the violence was part of a larger conspiracy.
Internet services remained suspended in and around Jantar Mantar even late on Monday night following the clashes.
Amid the unrest, the Centre initiated talks with the protesters. CJP representatives met Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda twice during the day. During the first meeting, Nadda reportedly asked the delegation to submit its demands in writing. The representatives returned later in the afternoon and handed over a memorandum containing three key demands.
With the CJP announcing another march to Parliament on Tuesday while continuing its sit-in at Jantar Mantar, concerns remain over the possibility of fresh confrontations in the national capital.