What began as a protest against the alleged NEET-UG paper leak at New Delhi's Jantar Mantar has evolved into a much broader movement, with its original agenda increasingly overshadowed by unrelated issues and groups.
Around 10.30 pm on Wednesday, slogans such as "Musalman Jai Shri Ram nahi bolte, Bharat Mata ki Jai nahi bolte" rang out from loudspeakers at the protest site. Sections of the crowd echoed the chants before responding with slogans including "Nara-e-Takbir, Allahu Akbar", "Jai Shri Ram" and "Bharat Mata ki Jai". The exchange continued for several minutes as hundreds watched, with some joining in and others recording the scene on their phones.
At nearly the same time, a group of Nihangs, members of the Sikh warrior order, stood near Tolstoy Marg carrying swords, ceremonial kirpans and long spears in front of Delhi Police and Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel. Some raised their weapons while others posed for photographs, drawing applause from parts of the gathering.
For anyone unfamiliar with the demonstration, it would have been difficult to identify it as a protest over the NEET-UG paper leak and a demand for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
India Today Digital has covered the protest since Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke first arrived at Jantar Mantar on June 6, witnessing attendance grow steadily as activist Sonam Wangchuk's indefinite hunger strike gathered momentum.
However, the atmosphere at the site has changed significantly since the July 20 march to Parliament, which was halted following allegations of excessive police force. The protest has expanded beyond the CJP's original framework, with its leadership appearing to have less control over the growing movement. Concerns have emerged that outside groups may already be shaping its direction.
On Thursday, retired Lieutenant General Satish Dua, who helped plan the 2016 Uri surgical strike, expressed similar concerns, saying that a communication vacuum could allow an issue-based youth movement to be taken over by outside elements and noting that the protests had begun spreading beyond Delhi.
Tensions at the site have also escalated. A YouTuber was allegedly assaulted on Wednesday night, while protesters clashed with a group of Nihangs on Thursday. Delhi Police and RAF personnel have continued facing verbal confrontations from sections of the crowd, though security forces have largely maintained restraint following criticism over the July 20 crackdown.
The situation at Jantar Mantar now appears increasingly volatile, with observers warning that even a minor trigger could escalate tensions.
Sonam Wangchuk's presence united the movement
In its early days, the protest appeared scattered and loosely organised. That changed after educationist and activist Sonam Wangchuk joined the movement and began addressing the crowd.
Throughout the occupation of Jantar Mantar by the Dipke-led CJP, Wangchuk became the central figure attracting protesters from across the country. His indefinite hunger strike transformed the demonstration into a nationwide movement focused on education reforms and accountability.
Students travelled from various states, volunteers managed logistics, doctors monitored Wangchuk's health, and supporters visited to express solidarity.
Wangchuk was removed from the protest site and taken to hospital on July 18.
While he remained at Jantar Mantar, discussions largely revolved around examination reforms, educational policy and government accountability. Since his departure, that clear focus has become increasingly difficult to maintain.
Multiple groups, little coordination
Away from the CJP's main stage, where Dipke and his associates Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka continue to address supporters, the protest now resembles several separate demonstrations taking place simultaneously.
Different groups have formed their own clusters, raising varied slogans and discussing issues ranging from education reforms to broader political and communal topics. Many participants appear to have joined because the protest has become a wider expression of public dissatisfaction.
The organisers' visibility diminishes the further one moves from the central stage, a shift that became more evident after the July 20 Chalo Sansad march.
The police response during that march, including the use of lathis and tear gas, brought thousands of new participants to Jantar Mantar. Many of them were motivated as much by anger over the police action as by concerns over the NEET issue.
While the larger crowds injected fresh momentum into the protest, they also made it more difficult to define its core purpose.
Violence and growing diversity among participants
The changing nature of the protest extended beyond Jantar Mantar on Wednesday night when a large crowd marched through Connaught Place without any announced programme.
Police alleged that protesters clashed with personnel, hurled stones and damaged police vehicles, drawing comparisons with the confrontations seen during the July 20 Parliament march.
Unlike the protest's earlier phase, when CJP volunteers coordinated activities and speeches followed a schedule, many of the newer gatherings appeared to operate independently, with no clearly identifiable leadership.
Participants now include Nihangs carrying traditional weapons, people raising issues unrelated to education and visitors who openly acknowledged attending simply to experience a large-scale protest.
Among them were two young men from Darjeeling. One of them, Janggit Singh, said he had never witnessed such a massive gathering before and wanted to remain at the site for a few more days because of the atmosphere.
Rather than focusing on the NEET controversy, he said he was interested in participating in a broader movement seeking systemic change.
Such conversations suggest that the protest is increasingly attracting people whose motivations extend well beyond the issue that initially brought students to Jantar Mantar.
Safety concerns emerge
The changing composition of the crowd has also raised concerns about safety.
During an overnight visit by India Today Digital, a young woman resting at the protest site alleged that a man attempted to sexually assault her. People nearby intervened immediately, beating the accused before forcing him away.
However, he was not handed over to the police, with those present reportedly expressing concern that involving law enforcement could further disrupt the protest.
Whether similar incidents have occurred without being reported remains unclear.
The episode highlighted the challenges of maintaining order at a prolonged mass gathering where thousands of people enter and leave each day and organisers have only limited oversight.
Perhaps the most noticeable transformation has been the nature of discussions taking place at the site. Conversations that once centred on examination leaks, students' futures and educational accountability now frequently shift towards religion, identity, regional issues and broader political grievances.
Participants often form small groups and coordinate among themselves, but there is little centralised communication from the CJP. Mobile internet services around Jantar Mantar reportedly remain restricted, making online coordination difficult and limiting real-time communication between organisers and participants.
CJP struggles to maintain focus
The education-related demands that initially united the movement now compete with a growing number of unrelated causes.
Such developments are common in prolonged protests, where multiple groups often use the platform to highlight their own concerns.
Whether this broadening strengthens or weakens the movement depends largely on whether organisers can preserve a clear objective.
Although CJP banners remain visible and volunteers continue making announcements from the main stage, much of the activity beyond that area appears to function independently of the organisation that initiated the protest.
The original demands have not disappeared entirely. Students continue to arrive, speeches calling for accountability are still delivered and families continue to express support.
However, those voices now compete with an expanding mix of political slogans, religious messaging and spontaneous mobilisations.
The July 20 police action gave the movement unprecedented visibility, transforming what began as a relatively small sit-in into one of India's largest ongoing protests. At the same time, that growth has made the movement increasingly difficult to define.
The crowds have grown larger, public anger has intensified and the range of issues being raised continues to expand.
As the protest evolves, organisers and supporters face a growing challenge: whether the movement can remain centred on its original demands or whether it will gradually be overtaken by issues its founders never intended to represent. At Jantar Mantar, that question remains unresolved.
