Several political leaders, actors and civil society members joined supporters of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) at Jantar Mantar on Monday as the organisation launched its Chalo Sansad march, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the alleged NEET-UG paper leak and other examination-related irregularities.

Among those who attended the protest were Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra, veteran actor Shabana Azmi, actor-filmmaker Prakash Raj, CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat, and Aam Aadmi Party leaders Manish Sisodia, Sanjay Singh, Saurabh Bharadwaj and Gopal Rai. Their participation drew significant public attention to the demonstration, which coincided with the opening day of the Monsoon Session of Parliament.

The CJP had called on supporters from across the country to assemble at Jantar Mantar before marching towards Parliament to press for action over alleged irregularities in competitive examinations and demand greater accountability in the education system. Protest organisers said the agitation was intended to highlight concerns raised by students and aspirants affected by the controversy.

Ahead of the march, Delhi Police stated that no permission had been sought or granted for a procession to Parliament. Security was tightened across central Delhi, with barricades, additional personnel and surveillance deployed around Jantar Mantar, Parliament House and other sensitive locations to maintain law and order.

As protesters attempted to move towards Parliament, police stopped the procession, leading to brief confrontations in some areas. Authorities later dispersed sections of the gathering and maintained a strong security presence throughout the day. The protest remained largely centred around Jantar Mantar as the situation continued to be closely monitored.

Delhi Police personnel on Monday lathicharged supporters of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) from marching towards Parliament, which began its sitting for the Monsoon Session today, triggering mayhem and chaos.

The protest, Chalo Sansad, was organized by CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke to demand accountability over alleged irregularities in national entrance examinations and the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

Thousands of protesters gathered at Jantar Mantar despite the police refusing permission for the march. As demonstrators attempted to move towards Parliament, security personnel, including the Rapid Action Force (RAF), stopped them using barricades. Then clashes broke out between protesters and police. Visuals from the protest showed police using batons to disperse the crowd and restore order.

Ahead of the protest, Abhijeet Dipke had appealed to supporters to remain peaceful and carry a rose and a copy of the Indian Constitution as symbols of non-violence. Despite this appeal, the march was not allowed because Delhi Police said no permission had been sought or granted. Authorities also imposed Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) in the New Delhi district, prohibiting large gatherings due to the beginning of the Monsoon Session.

Ladakh climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, who has been now moved to Safdarjung Hospital, had been on a hungerstrike demanding accountability for alleged failures in the education system and examination paper leaks. Wangchuk was shifted to the hospital after his health deteriorated, the move has further intensified public support for the protest.

The police action caused traffic disruptions around Jantar Mantar, Parliament Street, and nearby areas, while security was significantly tightened across central Delhi. Additional police personnel, barricades, and surveillance teams were deployed to prevent protesters from entering the high-security Parliament zone.

Several Metro stations around the Jantar Mantar protest site and Parliament were shuttered. Delhi Police have warned that legal action will be taken against anyone violating prohibitory orders. Meanwhile, CJP leaders have said their movement will continue until their demands are addressed.

The Monsoon Session of Parliament is set to begin on Monday with the Centre and the Opposition preparing for sharp confrontations over several political and legislative issues. The session will have 19 sittings and is scheduled to continue until August 13.

Several controversial bills, political developments and national issues are expected to dominate proceedings. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also expected to address the media before Parliament convenes.

Opposition targets NCPI over recognition issue

One of the major flashpoints is the recognition of the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI), which has drawn criticism from Opposition parties.

The Opposition staged a symbolic walkout during an all-party meeting after Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju invited NCPI representatives. Opposition leaders alleged the party is acting as a platform for 20 rebel Trinamool Congress MPs, arguing that the Lok Sabha Speaker has not yet formally approved their merger with the NCPI.

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh and Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra questioned the legitimacy of the group’s recognition, while Speaker Om Birla has allowed the rebel MPs to sit separately until a decision on the merger is taken.

Responding to the criticism, Kiren Rijiju described the walkout as symbolic and said no Member of Parliament could be denied participation based on numerical strength. NCPI chief Sudip Bandyopadhyay defended the party, describing it as a secular organisation committed to communal harmony.

NDA numbers under focus

The political significance of the merger also extends to the strength of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the Lok Sabha.

The NDA currently has 298 members in the 540-member House, where three seats remain vacant. If the Speaker approves the merger of the 20 rebel MPs with the NCPI, the alliance’s tally would increase to 318, bringing it closer to the two-thirds majority mark of 360 seats.

Key bills likely to dominate the session

The government is expected to introduce and debate several important bills during the session.

Among them is the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, which proposes increasing the strength of the Lok Sabha to 850 seats while implementing 33 per cent reservation for women. The proposal was defeated earlier this year after Opposition parties raised concerns over the delimitation process, with parties such as the DMK arguing it could reduce the political representation of southern states.

Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal is also expected to introduce the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026. The legislation seeks to replace an ordinance and increase the sanctioned strength of Supreme Court judges from 33 to 37.

Another closely watched proposal is the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, which aims to establish a designated authority to manage and dispose of foreign assets. The bill also proposes stricter provisions for cancelling the FCRA registrations of NGOs after expiry of their certificates.

Opposition plans to raise NEET and Ayodhya issues

Apart from legislative business, the Opposition is expected to raise several national issues during the session.

Aam Aadmi Party MP Sanjay Singh has submitted a notice in the Rajya Sabha seeking a discussion on the NEET-UG paper leak. Opposition parties are also expected to raise allegations related to the reported theft of offerings from the Ayodhya Ram Temple.

Ahead of the session, Speaker Om Birla urged all political parties to ensure that debates remain constructive throughout the proceedings.