New Delhi: A day after activist Sonam Wangchuk was shifted to Safdarjung Hospital, the protest at Jantar Mantar swelled Sunday, with people arriving from across the country to join it.The protest entered its 22nd day, while CJP founder Abhijit Dipke’s indefinite hunger strike entered its second day and three AISA activists — Neha, Ameen Amitoj and Manish Kumar — completed 22 days of fasting.Despite the oppressive heat, the site was packed to capacity. Long queues formed outside the entrance to Jantar Mantar and its rear end was filled with supporters unable to get inside. The gates remained choked with people, and with little room left, many sat or stood wherever they could, including on pavements, listening to speeches from organisers.The air reverberated with slogans of “Dharmendra Pradhan istifa do”, “tanashahi nahi chalegi” and “Vande Mataram”, with thousands raising them in unison.CJP volunteers were deployed across the venue to manage the crowd. Human chains were formed at the entry and exit points, while volunteers carrying hand fans tried to provide relief to supporters packed shoulder to shoulder. Others moved through the throng spraying water mist on people’s faces as many complained of discomfort in the humid conditions. A medical team carrying basic medicines attended to those who felt unwell.With the crowd spilling onto the road, Delhi Police repeatedly made announcements asking protesters to vacate the carriageway, reminding them that prohibitory orders under 163 BNSS remained in force in the area. Heavy police deployment continued, with riot-control vehicles, ambulances, tear gas units and security personnel stationed around the site.On the stage, Dipke remained seated on his hunger strike, occasionally addressing the gathering, while other CJP members and speakers took turns talking about alleged question paper leaks, a need for reforms in exams and what they described as govt’s failure to respond to concerns of students.Among those who addressed the gathering was the father of Pradeep Meghwal, a NEET aspirant whose family alleges he died by suicide following the exam controversy. Fighting back tears, he said, “Mera beta chala gaya… main dar-dar ki thokre kha raha hoon. Main yahan sirf nyay ki guhar lagane aaya hoon.” CJP members said the family travelled to Delhi in solidarity with the protest and alleged that despite taking loans in the hope that their son would change the family’s future, they were now left without justice.Supporters cutting across age groups and professions continued to arrive through the day. Children accompanied their parents, elderly citizens joined the sit-in, and many poured in from outside Delhi.Fatima Khan, who came from Patna Saturday to participate in Monday’s ‘Sansad Chalo March’, said she was shocked to learn that Wangchuk had been shifted to hospital the morning she reached the protest site. “Main railway station se seedha yahan aayi. Meri beti bhi NEET aspirant thi. Paper leak ki vajah se wo depression me hain,” she said.Several politicians and public figures, including AAP’s Manish Sisodia, TMC MP Mahua Moitra and actor Shabana Azmi, visited Jantar Mantar in solidarity.Addressing the protesters, Dipke urged people to assemble in large numbers for the march to Parliament scheduled to begin at 9 am Monday, saying it was Wangchuk’s message that it must be a success.Posting a social media message “from my illegal detention at Safdarjung”, Wangchuk called the planned march s“India’s second freedom movement” for “freedom from injustice” and “freedom from fear”.For the march, CJP has issued some guidelines, appealing to participants to carry only the national flag and use positive slogans, even as Delhi Police said permission for the march has not been granted.Delhi BJP president Harsh Malhotra said the police action to remove Wangchuk from Jantar Mantar was carried out in accordance with directions of Delhi High Court. The activist joined the hunger strike on June 28 in a demonstration sponsored by AAP, Communist parties and Congress, even though a satisfactory re-examination of NEET had been held on June 21, Malhotra claimed, adding that, this proves the purpose of Wangchuk’s hunger strike was not to raise students’ issues, but to disrupt Parliament’s Monsoon Session, beginning Monday, from the streets.
