CJP's night vigil begins, crowds camp at Jantar Mantar on eve of Parliament march call

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Crowds continued to pour into the CJP's protest site at Jantar Mantar through the day as preparations gathered pace for Monday's march to Parliament

Updated - July 20, 2026 02:24 am IST - New Delhi

Supporters of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) chant slogans and wave their mobile phones with their flashlights on as they gather after the Indian education reformer Sonam Wangchuk, who had been on a hunger strike, was taken to a hospital by authorities on July 19, 2026, during a sit-in protest demanding the resignation of Indian Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, at Jantar Mantar. | Photo Credit: Reuters

Banners, slogans and swelling crowds transformed Jantar Mantar into a packed protest camp on Sunday (July 19, 2026), as Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke's call for a night vigil drew a massive response ahead of its proposed "Chalo Sansad" march on Monday (July 20).

Amid the swelling crowds, Sonam Wangchuk's wife, Gitanjali J. Angmo, announced that the activist would end his hunger strike on Monday (July 20) if political leaders met him at Safdarjung Hospital and assured him that the issue of education accountability would be the focus of the Monsoon Session of Parliament.

Crowds continued to pour into the CJP's protest site at Jantar Mantar through the day as preparations gathered pace for Monday's march to Parliament.

CJP chief spokesperson Saurav Das claimed that nearly 20,000 people were "at and around Jantar Mantar" even before the scheduled mobilisation.

In a post on X, Mr. Das said, "20,000 people are at and around Jantar Mantar. And it's not even July 20 yet. Dharmendra Pradhan -- your day of reckoning is in New Delhi." The protest also drew support from several political leaders and public figures.

Actors Shabana Azmi and Prakash Raj visited Jantar Mantar, joining Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra, CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat and AAP leaders Manish Sisodia, Saurabh Bharadwaj, Sanjay Singh and Gopal Rai in expressing solidarity with the agitation.

"July 20 will be a historic day. The Centre will have to bow down," Bharadwaj said. On whether AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal would join the protest, he said he had no information. Mr. Rai condemned Mr. Wangchuk's forcible removal from the protest site and urged supporters to keep Monday's march peaceful.

Addressing the gathering, Azmi reiterated her support for Mr. Wangchuk and the CJP, saying she had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging him to initiate dialogue with the protesters. Prakash Raj raised slogans of "Jai Bhim" and said he would stay overnight at the protest site before joining Monday's march.

CJP members shared photographs and videos on social media showing the protest site packed with supporters, claiming people from different parts of the country had begun arriving for Monday's mobilisation.

Addressing supporters through a video message, Mr. Dipke urged them to remain at Jantar Mantar through the night, saying their presence was essential to ensure the Parliament march proceeded peacefully.

"Our protest is going on. Please come here in large numbers. Stay here for the night. If you don't come, they will try to end the protest," he said.

Appealing for restraint, Mr. Dipke said, "Our protest and march will be peaceful. I request everyone to follow the rules and follow the guidelines." He also asserted that Mr. Wangchuk's indefinite hunger strike was continuing at Safdarjung Hospital despite his removal from the protest site by police early Saturday.

"As you saw, they took away Sonam sir forcefully, but his hunger strike is continuing in the hospital," Mr. Dipke said.

In a significant announcement, Mr. Wangchuk's wife, Ms. Angmo, while addressing supporters at Jantar Mantar, said, "If political leaders meet Sonam in the hospital and assure him that they will raise the issue of education accountability during the Parliament session, he will end his hunger strike tomorrow," Ms. Angmo said.

She also conveyed Mr. Wangchuk's appeal to supporters ahead of the proposed march, urging them to maintain peace and discipline.

Earlier in the day, Mr. Wangchuk issued a message from Safdarjung Hospital through Ms. Angmo, describing Monday's mobilisation as "India's second freedom movement" and calling for "freedom from injustice" over alleged paper leaks and "freedom from fear" over what he termed his "illegal detention".