Braving rain, thousands of people regrouped at the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest site at Jantar Mantar in the heart of Delhi by Tuesday (July 21, 2026) afternoon, after security forces almost cleared the area a day before. Though the security forces demolished the tents and parts of the main stage on Monday (July 20, 2026) evening, a few hundred people regrouped at the main protest site on Monday (July 20, 2026) late night itself.
From only about 200-300 people on early Tuesday (July 21, 2026) morning, the crowd swelled throughout the day to thousands by evening. Hundreds more gathered outside two entrances to the protest site, waiting to enter, leaving queues of people trying to enter and many leave the site.
The main stage and other tents were also being erected by people after being partially and some fully demolished by security personnel on Monday (July 20, 2026) evening.
Amid chants of groups of people asking for Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation and attacking Prime Minister Modi, people distributed food, water, biscuits, and medicines.
More than announcements from the main dias, it was the crowd, which was divided into smaller groups singing revolutionary songs, raising slogans, or playing musical instruments, that kept the protest alive.
‘Scared, but didn’t leave’
Rajesh Sahu, 38, from Begusarai of Bihar, who has been at the protest site for the last three days, said he faced lathicharge during the Parliament march and also at the protest site in Jantar Mantar later on Monday (July 20, 2026) evening.
“Around 4.30 p.m. yesterday, we left the protest site as there was lathicharge. Then we roamed around in the nearby areas and later went to Bangla Sahib Gurdwara. There were around 100 protesters there. Later around 2 a.m., 20 of us came back to the protest site and slept here,” he said, while distributing biscuits.
During the night itself people starting rebuilding the tents and main stage, Mr. Sahu said, under a shaky tent made of blue tarpaulin sheet, which had many holes.
Pushpa Kumari, 35, who works at a private company in Noida, said she had been at the protest site for the past four days. “In the morning, there was only around 200 people and there was a lot of security personnel. They were threatening us to leave. We thought that we won’t survive the lathicharge, as there was a lot of security personnel. We were scared, but didn’t leave.”
She said police were initially not allowing people to come in, but as the crowd swelled outside, they pulled back and allowed people to come in.
Many first-time protesters
Despite protesters facing lathicharge and teargas shells a day earlier, many youngsters said they came to the protest site for the first time on Tuesday (July 21, 2026) due to the “brutal” action.
Paakhi Singh, 20, was wearing gloves and going around the protest site with a black plastic bag, collecting garbage.
“I have been following the movement, but this is the first time that I am coming here. I saw yesterday’s police action and my humanity and empathy made me come here,” said Ms. Singh, a student in the University of Delhi.
“Police have a right of duty, but have no right to hit pregnant women and students like they did yesterday,” she added.
Shashank, 31, a professional dancer and teacher from West Delhi, said he also came to the protest site for the first time. “They [government] had too many options and what they did was too bad. Some of my friends were also hit by police yesterday. Some of students and fellow teachers have also joined the protest for the first time today,” he said.
“After seeing yesterday’s actions, I felt I have to come here. If I don’t come even after it, then when?” he asked.
Annu Ranjan, 23, and her friend Diksha Nishad, 28, both first timers to the protest site, said Monday’s police action triggered their decision to come, despite the chance of facing lathicharge at the protest site.
“I felt that I need to come here after seeing the videos,” Ms. Ranjan said.
Published – July 21, 2026 11:32 pm IST
