New Delhi: A brief scuffle broke out between members of the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) and a group of Nihangs at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar on Thursday, prompting police and security personnel to intervene and bring the situation under control.
According to officials, the two groups were involved in an argument that escalated into pushing and shoving. The exact cause of the confrontation was not immediately known. Security has since been tightened in and around the protest site.
The incident came a day after members of several Sikh organisations reached the protest venue late on Wednesday night. Protesters welcomed them with slogans and chants of “Satnam Waheguru”.
Videos circulating on social media showed Nihang members arriving at Jantar Mantar while sitting on the roofs and bonnets of vehicles. Protesters also sang Punjabi songs, while volunteers distributed food, blankets, sheets and mats to those participating in the demonstration.
One Nihang participant warned that they would not tolerate any disrespect towards women, while stressing their support for the ongoing protest.
Singer Bhajan Kanhaiya Mittal also addressed the gathering and performed a song referring to the alleged NEET paper leak, urging young people to participate in the movement.
The protest, which began on June 20, has continued at Jantar Mantar with demonstrators demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the alleged examination irregularities.
Supporters from Punjab have set up community kitchens and distributed essential supplies, saying they had come to stand in solidarity with students, similar to the support extended during the farmers’ protests.
