With Section 144 in force before the Monsoon Session of Parliament, police deployed riot-control units, RAF personnel and heavy barricading to prevent an unauthorised march towards Parliament, leading to tense face-offs with demonstrators.
BY PC BUREAU
New Delhi, July 20: Central Delhi witnessed high drama from the early hours of Monday as the Delhi Police mounted an unprecedented security operation around Jantar Mantar and the Parliament complex ahead of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)’s proposed ‘Sansad Chalo’ march. With prohibitory orders under Section 144 already in force in parts of the national capital ahead of the Monsoon Session of Parliament, police erected multiple layers of barricades, deployed anti-riot personnel, and warned that any unauthorised procession towards Parliament would not be allowed.
The confrontation began well before sunrise, with scores of CJP supporters, including students and youth activists, gathering at Jantar Mantar despite the restrictions. As police moved to reinforce barricades using buses and heavy vehicles, protesters staged dramatic acts of resistance by lying on the roads in front of the vehicles, attempting to prevent them from being positioned across key approach roads leading to Sansad Marg.
Visuals from the protest site showed demonstrators chanting slogans against the administration while accusing the Delhi Police of curbing their democratic right to protest. Several protesters sat or lay on the asphalt, forcing police personnel to manually remove them as security arrangements intensified.
🚨 Delhi Police Warning at Protest Site
Poster installed outside Jantar Mantar/Sansad Marg: Force will be used if people gather for unauthorised march.Prohibitory orders in place ahead of Parliament session.#DelhiProtests #JantarMantar https://t.co/M74DRgvSQW pic.twitter.com/N8g451NY4J
— Public News X (@PublicNewsX) July 20, 2026
The CJP alleged that the authorities had converted the protest venue into a “fortress” to prevent its supporters from marching to Parliament. In a statement, the party claimed that buses, water cannons, riot-control equipment and large contingents of police had been deployed to crush what it described as a peaceful democratic movement.
“Our march is peaceful and intended to place people’s concerns before Parliament. Instead of allowing democratic expression, the government has responded with barricades and intimidation,” a CJP spokesperson alleged.
🚨 Delhi Police Warning at Protest Site
Poster installed outside Jantar Mantar/Sansad Marg: Force will be used if people gather for unauthorised march.Prohibitory orders in place ahead of Parliament session.#DelhiProtests #JantarMantar https://t.co/M74DRgvSQW pic.twitter.com/N8g451NY4J
— Public News X (@PublicNewsX) July 20, 2026
Heavy Security Blanket
By dawn, the Jantar Mantar area bore little resemblance to its usual role as Delhi’s designated protest site.
Rows of iron barricades, concertina wire, police buses and heavy vehicles sealed off major entry points, while Delhi Police personnel in riot gear took positions across the area. Rapid Action Force (RAF) units and additional security contingents remained on standby to respond to any escalation.
Authorities also installed prominent warning boards near Jantar Mantar and along Sansad Marg cautioning that force could be used against anyone attempting to participate in an unauthorised march.
Security was simultaneously tightened around Parliament House, Vijay Chowk and adjoining government buildings, with police carrying out extensive checks on vehicles and pedestrians entering the high-security zone.
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Police Cite Law and Order Concerns
Delhi Police defended the elaborate security arrangements, saying they were essential to maintain law and order ahead of the Parliament session and to prevent disruptions in one of the capital’s most sensitive administrative districts.
Senior police officers said permission had not been granted for the proposed march towards Parliament and warned that any attempt to breach security cordons or violate prohibitory orders would invite legal action.
“We respect the right to peaceful protest, but no organisation can be allowed to violate prohibitory orders or disrupt public order in the Parliament area,” a senior police official said.
Traffic restrictions and diversions were imposed across several stretches, including Parliament Street, Sansad Marg, parts of Connaught Place and adjoining roads, leading to slow-moving traffic during the morning hours.
Protest Expected to Continue
The CJP’s “Sansad Chalo” call comes against the backdrop of its campaign on a range of socio-political issues that it says require immediate parliamentary attention. Party leaders have appealed to supporters from Delhi and neighbouring states to join the demonstration despite the restrictions.
As of Monday afternoon, the situation remained tense but largely under control, with police maintaining a heavy presence around Jantar Mantar and Parliament. Authorities continued to monitor the gathering closely as more protesters were expected to arrive later in the day, raising the possibility of further confrontations between demonstrators and security personnel.
