CJP Protest Enters New Phase After Sonam Wangchuk’s Forced Removal from Jantar Mantar

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By TRH Op-Ed Desk

Modi Government Faces Fresh Criticism Over Education Crisis as Sonam Wangchuk Protest Enters New Phase

New Delhi, July 19, 2026 — After the removal of activist Sonam Wangchuk from Jantar Mantar, the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) protest has entered a new phase. The police action against Wangchuk seems to have stirred the youth to pour onto the street. The Jantar Mantar Road is now swelling with the crowd, filling the missing link of the CJP protest against Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government’s alleged failure in education.

A sympathy wave seems sweeping after Wangchuk was taken to the Safdarjung Hospital on Saturday. The CJP supporters have claimed that the “no one is being allowed to meet Wangchuk.”

A delegation of CPI (M) leaders also failed to meet Wangchuk at the hospital. M.A. Baby, CPI (M) leader told reporters that the party delegation was asked to get a permission from the hospital director for a meeting with Wangchuk. He later addressed the CJP supporters at Jantar Mantar.

With speculations running life all through Saturday that the police would clear the Jantar Mantar of protestors, the venue witnessed a major turnaround as hundreds of the youth arrived in solidarity with the cause. Several youth leaders affiliated with the students’ wings of the Left parties have also begun indefinite fast at the protest venue.

Political analyst Manish Anand, in his commentary on the protest, launched a sharp critique of the Modi-led government, alleging that “the Centre has failed to address growing concerns over India’s education system despite introducing the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.”

Speaking on The Raisina Hills YouTube channel, Anand argued that repeated examination controversies and the government’s handling of student-related protests have weakened public confidence in the education sector.

Anand said the deterioration in public trust cannot be attributed solely to Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. According to him, the responsibility also rests with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who appointed education ministers whose credentials or priorities have faced political scrutiny.

Referring to former education minister Smriti Irani and incumbent Dharmendra Pradhan, Anand claimed that both appointments reflected the government’s political approach to education rather than an emphasis on academic reform. He argued that despite promises of qualitative improvements through the National Education Policy 2020, major examinations—including board examinations and competitive entrance tests such as NEET—have repeatedly been surrounded by controversies, affecting students’ confidence in the system.

As the CJP protest enters a new phase with swelling support, Anand said that the police may not find it easy to clear off the Jantar Mantar of protestors while Monsoon session of parliament begins from Monday.