AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi on Tuesday criticised the police action against students during the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)-led “Sansad Chalo” march in Delhi, saying it reflected a pattern in the government’s response to public protests, including the farmers’ agitation, anti-CAA demonstrations and lawyers’ protests.
Speaking to reporters, Owaisi said the government had ample time to engage with the students, as the protest had been continuing for several weeks, but failed to do so.
“What happened yesterday is this government’s consistently visible behaviour,” Owaisi said.
Referring to previous protest movements, he added, “Similar things happened during the lawyers’ protests, the farmers’ protests and the CAA protests. This protest has been going on for weeks. The government should have spoken to the students earlier.”
He described the scenes witnessed during Monday’s protest as “total disorder” and said the situation could have been avoided through dialogue.
The CJP has been holding protests since June over alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG 2026 examination and demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The agitation gained nationwide attention after activist Sonam Wangchuk joined the movement and began an indefinite hunger strike, which continues.
Opposition Targets Government Over Crackdown
Owaisi’s remarks came as opposition parties intensified their criticism of the Centre over the police action during the march towards Parliament.
Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi also attacked the government, alleging that students were punished for raising legitimate concerns about their future.
“Students were beaten up for asking legitimate questions about their own future,” Gandhi said while demanding a detailed discussion in Parliament on the alleged examination irregularities and the police action against protesters.
The Opposition has been pressing for the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and has sought a debate on the NEET paper leak issue during the ongoing Monsoon Session of Parliament.
Five FIRs Registered, Police Probe Violence
Delhi Police has registered five FIRs in connection with the violence, stone-pelting and vandalism reported during Monday’s protest near Jantar Mantar and central Delhi.
According to police sources, the FIRs have been lodged at Sansad Marg and Connaught Place police stations under various provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the Arms Act, 1959, and the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act.
Investigators are examining whether the violence was pre-planned and are analysing more than 250 videos from CCTV cameras, media footage and social media to identify those involved.
Delhi Police said more than 118 police personnel were injured during the clashes. According to police, over 60 protesters were also injured in the confrontation.
The protest turned violent after demonstrators attempting to march towards Parliament were stopped by security personnel. Police used tear gas and baton charges after protesters allegedly tried to breach barricades, while protesters accused the police of using excessive force against students.
