The support for the CJP protest at New Delhi's Jantar Mantar continues to grow, with prominent farmer leader Rakesh Tikait and Olympic medallist wrestler
Bajrang Punia extending their solidarity to the students. The protest site at Jantar Mantar saw fresh crowds gathering, with supporters arriving overnight despite heavy police deployment in the area. The CJP claimed on X that "thousands and thousands" of protesters had returned to the site and said the movement would continue until Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigns. Volunteers were also seen receiving food and other supplies sent by supporters, with the group portraying the growing turnout as a sign that the protest had regained momentum after the police action earlier this week. The CJP shared visuals on social media showing farm leaders and wrestlers sharing the stage with the protesters at Jantar Mantar, highlighting the widening support for the student-led agitation.
Taking to X, the CJP said the backing of farmers would strengthen the movement and put pressure on the Union Government to accept the students' demands. "When farmers and students come together, those in power have no choice but to bow down," the CJP wrote.
The support from farmers carries significance given the success of the 2020-21 farmers' protest. The agitation, led by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), saw tens of thousands of farmers, mainly from Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh, camp at Delhi's borders for more than a year. The protest was launched against the Centre's three farm laws, which farmers said would hurt their livelihoods. After months of demonstrations and negotiations, the Union Government repealed all three laws in November 2021.
Olympic medallist Bajrang Punia also joined the protesters on stage and voiced support for the students against Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
Punia was one of the leading faces of the wrestlers' protest in 2023. Along with fellow wrestlers, including Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik, he staged a months-long sit-in at Jantar Mantar demanding action against former Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh over allegations of sexual harassment made by several women wrestlers. The protest drew nationwide attention and became one of the biggest sporting protests in recent years.
The current sit-in follows the CJP's "Chalo Sansad" march on July 20, when thousands of protesters attempted to march from Jantar Mantar towards Parliament. Delhi Police stopped the march, leading to clashes in which police allegedly used batons and tear gas to disperse the crowd. Several protesters were detained, while many later regrouped at Jantar Mantar and announced that the agitation would continue until their demands were met.
Sonam Wangchuk's wife Gitanjali Angmo has confirmed that her husband had decided to break his hunger strike after receiving a letter for opposition leaders urging him to break his fast. She added that Wangchuk would be ending his fast if the Government gave them assurances that there would be no legal action taken on the student protesters. This declaration was made Sonam Wangchuk himself in a letter that he had penned to Union Minister JP Nadda.
Meanwhile, the Delhi High Court heard arguments over the police brutality allegations during the July 20 Parliament protest. The High Court issued a notice to the Delhi Police over the allegations, seeking a response while ordering the preservation of all CCTV footage, videography and documented evidence.
