India, July 23 -- The atmosphere at the Cockroach Janta Party's (CJP) protest site at Jantar Mantar has changed noticeably since the July 20 "Sansad Chalo" march. While thousands of supporters continue to gather at the venue every day, the security arrangements inside the protest site are markedly different from what they were before the march. Before the July 20 march, Delhi Police had installed baggage-scanning machines at the entry points to the protest site, which is now missing. Every visitor entering Jantar Mantar underwent security screening, and police personnel affixed stickers on checked bags to indicate they had been cleared.
However, following the police action during the July 20 march, those arrangements are no longer visible. No baggage-scanning machines were seen at the entry points and no police personnel were present to conduct security checks, despite a steady flow of supporters arriving at the protest site. Instead, CJP volunteers were regulating entry and managing the movement of people inside the venue. Highlighting the change, the CJP posted on social media, "Where is the Delhi Police now? Crowd is constantly increasing but there is no police present for checking. As thousands stream into Jantar Mantar, Delhi Police has abandoned all security duties. Student volunteers are running checks at the front gate while the bag-scanning machine at the back gate has been quietly removed. Police are completely recklessly negligent. What exactly is being conspired by the Delhi Police? If anything happens at Jantar Mantar, Delhi Police will be responsible for it."
The protest site has remained active despite heightened security across central Delhi following the July 20 clashes and the ongoing Parliament session. While additional CRPF and Rapid Action Force personnel have been deployed around key government installations, volunteers at Jantar Mantar were seen handling entry management, assisting protesters and maintaining order within the demonstration area. The CJP's sit-in over alleged examination irregularities has continued into its second month, with fresh supporters continuing to join the agitation even after the police action earlier this week.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.