NEW DELHI: The ongoing agitation at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar witnessed another dramatic escalation on July 23, after clashes broke out between supporters of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and a group of Nihang Sikhs, raising fresh questions over the direction and nature of a protest that was initially projected as a movement for NEET aspirants.
Visuals from the protest site showed heated confrontations between CJP protesters and Nihang Sikhs, with members of the Sikh community accusing the agitators of attempting to hijack a students’ movement for political objectives.
According to eyewitness accounts and videos circulating on social media, Nihang Sikhs openly questioned the character of the protest, asserting that it had drifted far from its original purpose.
#WATCH | Delhi: Latest visuals from Jantar Mantar where Cockroach Janta Party protestors clashed with Nihang Sikhs. pic.twitter.com/GctoyORUqQ
— ANI (@ANI) July 23, 2026
“These are not students. These are anti-nationals who want to break the nation,” some Nihang Sikhs were heard saying during the confrontation, expressing strong opposition to the conduct of sections of the protesters.
The confrontation comes just a day after violent clashes erupted between protesters and Delhi Police on Sansad Marg, where demonstrators allegedly pelted stones at security personnel after breaching barricades. Police responded with tear gas to disperse the crowd.
According to Delhi Police, at least five police personnel, including two ACPs, an inspector, a head constable and a constable, sustained injuries during July 22’s violence.
With tensions continuing to mount, authorities maintained a heavy security presence across central Delhi on Thursday. Large contingents of Delhi Police remained deployed around Jantar Mantar, while the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) kept 16 metro stations closed as a precautionary measure. The affected stations included Rajiv Chowk, Mandi House, Central Secretariat and Supreme Court.
