New Delhi: Delhi Police sources have said that the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) has not sought permission for its proposed Parliament march on July 20 and indicated that approval is unlikely as the march coincides with the start of the Monsoon Session of Parliament.
According to the sources, even if the CJP submits a request, permission is unlikely to be granted due to security arrangements for the Monsoon Session.
The CJP has been protesting at Delhi's Jantar Mantar since June 6, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET paper leak case. Innovator and activist Sonam Wangchuk joined the protest on June 28 and began an indefinite hunger strike.
Wangchuk, who had been on a hunger strike for 20 days, was shifted to a hospital early on Saturday after his health deteriorated. The move was carried out following directions from the Delhi High Court and on the advice of medical experts. Police personnel shifted him from the protest site amid sloganeering and protests by CJP activists and supporters.
Earlier this week, the Delhi High Court directed authorities to conduct daily clinical health assessments of Wangchuk, observing that "the life of any citizen is precious" and asking the Centre to ensure necessary medical intervention to protect his life.
Following Wangchuk's hospitalisation, CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke alleged that Delhi Police assaulted him and dragged him on the road while he was trying to reach Jantar Mantar. He accused the police of forcibly removing Wangchuk from the protest site.
Speaking to IANS, Dipke said the protest would continue despite Wangchuk's removal. He alleged that police personnel secretly covered Wangchuk with a sheet and took him away "like criminals or the mafia kidnap people", describing the action as shameful.
Dipke also claimed that police prevented him from reaching Jantar Mantar, beat him and dragged him on the road. He further alleged that several MLAs and MPs were stopped at the protest site's entrance and were not allowed to enter.
Announcing that he had begun a hunger strike, Dipke said the planned Parliament march on July 20 would go ahead and insisted that Wangchuk's removal would not end the agitation.
The protesters have appealed to political parties to join the demonstration demanding the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET paper leak case.
With IANS inputs