NEW DELHI: The national capital witnessed one of its most chaotic days in recent years on Monday as the Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP) march towards Parliament triggered clashes with police, tear gas shelling, baton charges, Metro station closures, massive traffic congestion and widespread disruption across central Delhi.Thousands of protesters, many carrying the Tricolour and raising slogans against the Centre over alleged examination irregularities and paper leaks, attempted to march towards Parliament from Jantar Mantar despite heavy security arrangements, news agency PTI reported.As the crowds pushed through multiple police barricades near Patel Chowk and Mandi House, Delhi Police resorted to baton charges and fired tear gas shells to disperse the protesters. Eyewitnesses told PTI that some demonstrators hurled stones at security personnel, while police detained several protesters as they prevented the march from advancing towards Parliament.The unrest spilled across the heart of the capital, with the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) shutting Rajiv Chowk, Janpath, Patel Chowk, Central Secretariat and Seva Teerth Metro stations until further orders due to security concerns. Hundreds of commuters found themselves stranded outside locked stations, while videos circulating on social media showed passengers climbing over barricades and Metro gates after entry and exit points were sealed.Outside Janpath and Rajiv Chowk stations, office-goers, students and daily commuters scrambled to find alternate transport, with many forced to walk long distances or rely on buses, auto-rickshaws and cabs. Several major roads around Parliament Street, Janpath, Connaught Place and India Gate witnessed heavy traffic congestion throughout the day as security restrictions and diversions remained in place, PTI reported.Police also used mild force near Patel Chowk Metro station to disperse groups heading towards Jantar Mantar, while large contingents of security personnel remained deployed across central Delhi to prevent protesters from entering high-security zones.The day’s turmoil also affected political programmes. Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah, who had arrived in Delhi for the National Conference’s statehood restoration protest, abandoned plans to walk to the venue and instead took an auto-rickshaw after his route from Jantar Mantar became crowded. Sharing a video on X, Abdullah said, “My walk from Jantar Mantar was about to turn into another procession so we grabbed the first available means of transport.“Monday’s developments revived memories of several defining protests that have unfolded in the capital over the past decade, including the Anna Hazare anti-corruption movement, the Nirbhaya protests, the anti-CAA demonstrations, the farmers’ agitation and the wrestlers’ protest. Like those movements, the CJP protest saw demonstrators attempting to march towards Parliament, prompting an extensive police response involving barricades, detentions and restrictions across the city.By evening, police had dispersed protesters from several locations, including the India Gate lawns, while security remained heightened in the Parliament area. Metro services gradually resumed at some stations, but traffic continued to move slowly across parts of central Delhi as authorities maintained restrictions and monitored the situation, according to PTI.Is it over? Not yetThe CJP said the agitation would continue despite the police action, with its leaders remaining on a sit-in near Kerala House after being removed from Jantar Mantar. Party leaders indicated that they would intensify the protest in the coming days unless the Centre responds to their demands over alleged examination irregularities and education reforms.Social activist Sonam Wangchuk too vowed to continue his hunger strike till the young protestors were allowed to meet the MPs to raise their demands.Meanwhile, police maintained a heavy deployment in central Delhi and said security arrangements would continue to remain in place to prevent any fresh attempts to march towards Parliament or other high-security areas. Authorities are also expected to review video footage of the clashes and examine incidents of alleged stone-pelting, damage to public property and the use of force during the protest.(With agency inputs)
