Retired Delhi Police personnel seek permission for Jantar Mantar protest over 'Chalo Sansad' violence

Source: PTI

Retired Delhi Police personnel have sought permission from the Delhi Police to hold a peaceful dharna (sit-in) at Jantar Mantar on July 31. The demonstration is intended to express solidarity with police personnel injured during the ‘Chalo Sansad’ protest and to demand strict legal action against those allegedly involved in violence and vandalism.

Background

The ‘Chalo Sansad’ protest march was called on July 20 by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET-UG question paper leak. Mr. Pradhan resigned on Saturday (July 25, 2026), and the month-long CJP protest was subsequently called off.

Request for Permission

In a letter addressed to Delhi Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar, the Delhi Police Mahasangh (Delhi Police Retired Non-Gazetted/Gazetted Officers Association) requested permission to organise a one-day protest from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the designated protest site at Jantar Mantar.

The association stated that the demonstration was intended to:

• Express solidarity with Delhi Police personnel who sustained injuries while performing duty during the protest
• Boost the morale of injured personnel

Casualties and Damage

According to Delhi Police:

• More than 200 police personnel allegedly sustained injuries during the ‘Chalo Sansad’ protest
• Over 65 protesters were also injured
• More than 15 police vehicles were damaged during the clashes

Demands

The association said it wanted to press for strict legal action against:

• Habitual offenders
• Anti-social elements
• Gangsters
• Violent instigators

These individuals were allegedly involved in assaulting police personnel and damaging public property during the protest.

Conditions of the Proposed Protest

The application stated that the gathering would adhere to the following conditions:

• Remain within the designated protest zone at Jantar Mantar
• No march would be taken out towards Parliament House or Central Vista
• No temporary structures or tents would be erected
• Organisers would fully cooperate with the police
• Compliance with all directions issued under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS)
• The protest would remain peaceful
• No weapons or prohibited items would be carried
• No obstruction to pedestrian or vehicular movement

Clarification on Targets

Ved Bhushan, former Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) of Parliament Street and president of the association, clarified that the demand was not against students who had participated peacefully in the protest.

"We are saying that no action should be taken against the students who were peacefully protesting there. But action must be taken against those who were involved in using criminal force and stone-pelting on police personnel, damaging vehicles, and must be arrested," Mr. Bhushan said.

He further stated that police had identified more than 2,800 people with criminal records who were allegedly involved in the violence and stone-pelting during the July 20 protest.