India news: ‘Cockroaches’ take on Modi with parliament march

Police have not granted permission for a march to the parliament being organized by India’s Cockroach Janta Party movement. Nevetheless, the CJP seems poised to begin the protest walk. DW has the latest.

https://p.dw.com/p/5HPOC

Protesters wave the Indian national flag surrounded by security personnel
Demonstrators wave the Indian national flag at a protest site ahead of the planned CJP march Image: Anushree Fadnavis/REUTERS

Skip next section What you need to know

What you need to know

  • India’s Cockroach Janta Party movement has urged supporters to march to the Indian Parliament peacefully
  • Security has been stepped up near the Jantar Mantar observatory in Delhi, where demonstrators have been camping for nearly four weeks
  • Outside of the protest site, the police has prohibited protest marches, processions, demonstrations and assemblies of five or more people
  • The protest, led by young Indians, is calling for the resignation of India’s education minister over exam paper leaks

Here are the latest developments from India on Monday, June 20:

Skip next section What is happening at Jantar Mantar now?07/20/2026July 20, 2026

What is happening at Jantar Mantar now?

DW’s Shalu Yadav who is on the ground at Jantar Mantar, reports that hundreds, if not thousands, of police, and paramilitary security forces have deployed. 

She describes the protest site as a fortress now, surrounded by multi layer police barricading. 

“As I walk in I can hear the deep hum of slogans in the air,” Yadav reports. 

The police is repeatedly broadcasting on loudspeakers, asking protesters to move inside Jantar Mantar.

“But there’s no space inside. Crowds swelled out way beyond the barricades,” Yadav says.

Meanwhile, the roads leading up to the protest venue are lined with riot vehicles.

She also reports that the internet speed at the site is slow.

https://p.dw.com/p/5HPPkSkip next section CJP makes preparations for ‘Chalo Sansad’ march, police says no permission07/20/2026July 20, 2026

CJP makes preparations for ‘Chalo Sansad’ march, police says no permission

India’s Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on Monday morning appeared to go on with its plans for the “Chalo Sansad” march to the parliament in New Delhi despite a denial of permission from the police, risking a standoff. 

The protest movement — which is demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over a major test paper leak fiasco —  has called on the hundreds of supporters expected to join the march to carry out a “a peaceful and disciplined protest”

The march comes on the first day of the Indian Parliament’s monsoon session.

On Sunday evening, the Delhi Police denied the youth-led protest permission to march.

Prohibitory orders have been imposed in the New Delhi district, barring the gathering of five or more people, except at the designated protest site of Jantar Mantar where protestors have pitched a camp since June 20. 

“Delhi Police hereby categorically clarifies that no permission has been sought or granted for any such protest march/procession,” a public advisory said.

“As Parliament session is commencing from 20 July, strict security arrangements are in place to ensure public safety, security of protectees, and the protection of vital government installations,” the police said, adding that any violations of its order would be liable for legal action. 

On Monday, CJP’s founder Abhijeet Dipke hailed the Indian constitution in a social media post. 

Late on Sunday evening, Dipke shared a video message on Instagram saying that the success of the march lies in it being peaceful and called on protesters to carry roses, pictures of Mahatma Gandhi — the symbol of India’s non-violent freedom movement — or the Indian constitution book.

https://p.dw.com/p/5HPOFSkip next section Welcome to our coverage07/20/2026July 20, 2026

Welcome to our coverage

This is Dharvi Vaid Dhulia from DW’s studio in New Delhi, bringing you our Monday edition of the India news blog, where we give you a round up of all the biggest headlines making a buzz in the country. 

The skies over New Delhi are leaden with rain clouds but the only rumbling being heard this morning is a political one echoing through the power corridor of the Indian capital. 

The youth-led Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) movement is gearing up to march to the parliament where lawmakers are convening for the first day of the supreme legislative body’s monsoon session. 

The protesters seek the resignation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s education minister over exam irregularities amid a slew of paper leaks.

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The movement gained a fresh impetus over the weekend after prominent activist Sonam Wangchuk — who had been on a hunger strike to back the demand — was forcibly removed from the Jantar Mantar observatory and taken to a ‌hospital. Jantar Mantar is a popular site in India for demonstrations. 

The Delhi Police has said that no permission has been sought or given for any such protest march, issuing prohibitory orders.

Meanwhile, the CJP seems to be going ahead with its plans for the march.

Stay tuned as we bring you more. 

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