Thousands gather at Jantar Mantar to march toward Parliament, days after activist Sonam Wangchuk was forcibly removed from the protest site
New Delhi, July 20, 2026 — A large-scale protest march moved from Jantar Mantar toward Parliament on Monday, timed to coincide with the opening day of the Monsoon Session. The march, branded “Sansad Chalo,” was organised by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), a satirical political movement founded barely two months ago that has rapidly grown into a rallying point for young, unemployed protesters across the country.
Background: From a Courtroom Remark to a Movement
The CJP traces its origins to a May 15 Supreme Court hearing, where Chief Justice of India Surya Kant compared unemployed young people to “cockroaches” and “parasites of society” during remarks on a contempt matter. The comment triggered immediate backlash. The very next day, political communications strategist Abhijeet Dipke — a former associate of the Aam Aadmi Party — launched a movement inviting India’s “cockroaches”: people who are unemployed, underemployed, or otherwise frustrated with the system, to organise under a satirical political banner.
Within weeks, the loosely structured protest had set up camp at Jantar Mantar, India’s designated protest site near Parliament, drawing support from students and young professionals angered by a string of scandals — including exam paper leaks, technical failures in competitive tests, and cancelled examinations — that have fuelled frustration with the government’s handling of employment and education issues.
Wangchuk’s Removal Escalates Tensions
The movement gained a prominent ally in education reformer and climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, who joined the sit-in and began a hunger strike in solidarity with the protesters. Police forcibly removed Wangchuk from the protest site on Saturday, roughly three weeks into his hunger strike. Authorities cited a court order and concerns over his deteriorating health, but Wangchuk’s wife, Gitanjali Angmo, disputed that account, alleging he had been taken to hospital against his wishes.
That removal appears to have hardened the protesters’ resolve. Dipke has since called for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s resignation and urged supporters to march on Parliament on the opening day of the Monsoon Session.
Monday’s March
Delhi Police put up heavy security around Jantar Mantar ahead of the march, with all four approach roads reportedly packed with demonstrators by Monday morning. Addressing the crowd, Dipke framed the moment as historic, telling supporters that occupying Jantar Mantar for a month had “revived democracy” and that the roads leading to the site were too full for anyone to stop them from reaching Parliament.
Dipke is leading the march to Parliament alongside Angmo. In a video statement issued Sunday, he called for the protest to remain non-violent, saying that anyone causing disruption or raising inflammatory slogans could not claim to represent Wangchuk or the CJP.
There have been recent signs of dialogue between the protesters and the government. CJP spokesperson Saurav Das said Union Minister J.P. Nadda had assured the group that no further action would be taken against the Jantar Mantar site after a meeting between the two sides. Nadda separately confirmed on social media that an initial conversation had taken place with a CJP delegation and appealed to protesters to end their agitation. Despite this, Delhi Police have since cleared the tents and stage that had served as the movement’s base at Jantar Mantar.
What’s Next
With Parliament’s Monsoon Session now underway, the coming days are likely to test whether the government engages further with the CJP’s demands or moves to contain the protest. The story is still developing, and further updates are expected as the march reaches Parliament and lawmakers respond.
Editor’s note: This is a fast-moving, developing story. Verify casualty/arrest figures, exact crowd size, and any government statements against live wire copy (e.g. PTI/ANI) before publishing, and update this piece as new details emerge.