‘Students are being tortured’: Mamata Banerjee to join CJP protest

Kolkata/IBNS=CMEDIA: Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday extended her support to the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)-led agitation, a day after police launched a major crackdown on protesters during the Parliament march in New Delhi.

Addressing the party’s annual Martyrs’ Day rally in Kolkata, Banerjee said she was prepared to travel to the national capital to stand in solidarity with the protesters.

‘Ready to Go to Delhi’

Speaking at the rally, Banerjee expressed her willingness to personally join the agitation if required, signalling her support for the students and protesters demanding action over the alleged NEET-UG paper leak and related issues.

“Students and young people are being subjected to brutality in Delhi… If required, I will personally travel to Delhi and join the programmes of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP),” the former West Bengal Chief Minister said while addressing a gathering at Cathedral Road. 

Her remarks came amid escalating protests and widespread criticism of the police action against demonstrators in Delhi.

Opposition Rallies Behind CJP

Banerjee is the latest opposition leader to back the CJP, an online satirical campaign that has spearheaded the ongoing protests.

Earlier, Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, Lok Sabha MP Dimple Yadav, and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders Sanjay Singh and Atishi had also expressed support for the agitation.

The protests intensified after the police crackdown on demonstrators during Monday’s Parliament march and have since spread to several parts of the country, with students and civil society groups demanding accountability over the alleged NEET-UG paper leak and reforms in the examination system.

Parliament March Triggers Violence

Dramatic scenes unfolded during the Parliament march on the streets of Delhi on Monday as police lathi-charged thousands of protesters, leaving several demonstrators injured.

Police also fired tear gas shells, barricaded roads and detained protesters as a massive confrontation erupted in one of the most significant anti-government protests in recent years.

According to reports, several police personnel were also injured during the clashes, which disrupted normal life across the city.

Metro services were affected, parts of central Delhi came to a standstill, and protesters clashed with police while demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the alleged NEET-UG paper leak and broader education-related issues.

Why Are They Protesting?

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), an online satirical campaign, began its sit-in protest at Jantar Mantar nearly a month ago. The movement gained momentum after activist Sonam Wangchuk began an indefinite hunger strike on June 28 in support of the protesters.

The agitation intensified last week after Wangchuk was forcibly removed from Jantar Mantar by police and admitted to a hospital.

CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke, who had launched his own hunger strike following Wangchuk’s removal, called off his fast on Monday after a request from the parent of a NEET aspirant who died by suicide.

What Are the Current Demands?

The CJP has put forward three key demands:

• 
  Resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
• 
  Release of Sonam Wangchuk.
• 
  Compensation of ₹1 crore for the families of students who allegedly died by suicide in connection with the NEET-UG paper leak issue.