India, July 22 -- "Dilli Police se maar khane jaa raha hu," posted a young Gen Z protester on Instagram on Monday, sharing a tongue-in-cheek 'fit check' before heading to the Chalo Sansad March at Jantar Mantar. As events unfolded, he seemed a little too prepared for what was to come. Yet that blend of humour, self-awareness and defiance captured the mood of thousands of young protesters who joined the march in New Delhi, which later saw tear gas shells fired and a lathi charge by Delhi Police.

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) had called for a march from Jantar Mantar-where protesters had been camping for nearly a month-to Parliament. The call drew a massive response but was met with heavy police action as demonstrators attempted to move ...