Police fire tear gas, lathi-charge protesters; Internet suspended
NEW DELHI — Congress MP Shashi Tharoor led the all-around criticism of the brutal police action against protesters participating in the Cockroach Janata Party’s (CJP) ‘Chalo Sansad’ march on Monday.
Speaking to reporters, he questioned the use of force against a non-violent protest, saying, “When a non-violent protest is taking place, what is the reason for a lathi-charge? A lathi charge is not an act of non-violence. It is an act of violence.”
Reacting to the police action, the CJP accused the government of suppressing a peaceful demonstration. Sharing videos of security personnel firing tear gas shells, the party questioned why force was being used against protesters and asked whether democratic dissent was being curtailed.
https://x.com/Cockroachisback/status/2079112480639377815?s=20
“Is this a war zone? Why is the police resorting to tear gas assault on peaceful protesters? Sir @narendramodi have you decided we are no longer a democracy? First, your govt ignored this protest for a month and now when we are peacefully marching your govt is attacking us. Why?” CJP wrote on X while sharing the visuals
The protest drew the participation of several prominent public figures, including Azad Samaj Party (Kanshiram) chief Chandrashekhar Azad, Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra, Shashi Tharoor, and actors Prakash Raj and Shabana Azmi. Activist Sonam Wangchuk, who has been associated with the movement, remained admitted to Safdarjung Hospital.
NCP (SCP) MP Supriya Sule berated the Narendra Modi government over the crackdown. “In a democracy, every citizen has the constitutional right to peacefully voice their concerns. Instead of listening… the reported use of force to suppress their voices is deeply unfortunate and unacceptable”.
Earlier, tension gripped central Delhi after police used tear gas shells and carried out a lathi charge to disperse the protest, organised on the opening day of the Monsoon Session of Parliament. There was a heavy security deployment across the capital’s high-security zone.
Mobile internet services were suspended in parts of central Delhi, while several metro station gates were closed or access was restricted as a precaution, leaving many commuters stranded.
According to officials, protesters attempted to push past security barricades near Shastri Bhawan and move towards Jantar Mantar and the Parliament area. As the crowd advanced, security personnel fired tear gas shells and used force to prevent them from entering restricted zones.
Visuals circulating on social media showed chaotic scenes near the Constitution Club, where protesters were seen running as tear gas filled the area. CJP supporters claimed they had reached close to the Reserve Bank of India building near Parliament before security forces intensified the crackdown.
Delhi Police had earlier denied permission for the march and imposed prohibitory orders across much of New Delhi. Authorities said multiple layers of barricades were erected at strategic locations, including Constitution Club, the Press Club of India, Parliament Street, Shankar Road and Jantar Mantar, to prevent demonstrators from entering high-security areas.
Senior police officers, including Joint Commissioners of Police, remained on the ground to supervise security arrangements. Officials said additional police personnel and reserve paramilitary companies were deployed to maintain law and order.
“Our main objective is to maintain law and order,” a police officer said, adding that no one would be allowed to breach security arrangements.
Police also said there had been no “sporadic use of violence” at the protest site and maintained that the situation was being handled professionally. — With inputs from agencies
