‘You should all go home now’: big announcement leaves many in disbelief
Students protesting at Jantar Mantar in Delhi were surprised by a police announcement that their demands had been met and they should disperse. The announcement followed the resignation of the Union Education Minister and the conclusion of the 36-day Cockroach Janta Party agitation.
Why it matters
The sudden end to a long-standing protest marks a significant shift in the local political landscape and student activism in India.
Moments after Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation, the loud cheers at Jantar Mantar on Saturday were punctuated by a roaring announcement by the police – “ Saare apne, apne ghar jaiye ”.
“Attention, students. The government has accepted all your demands. You should all go home safely now,” the announcement echoed across a jam-packed Tolstoy Road, where a sea of students was celebrating, some standing on the road dividers, some others sitting on the pavements.
Police vehicles fitted with loudspeakers rolled through the roads surrounding Jantar Mantar, urging the crowd to return home “peacefully”.
While the declaration took many by surprise, prompting them to verify the information through their sources, the news of Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) winding up its 36-day agitation soon reached the crowd from the CJP stage.
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