Delhi’s Biggest Protests That Shook the Capital

New Delhi: As CJP supporters marched towards Parliament on Monday, leading to clashes with police and arrests, the scenes mirrored some of Delhi’s most defining public protests in the last 15 years, where thousands have similarly tried to press their demands to the seat of power.

The 2021 Republic Day tractor rally was among the largest protests that witnessed a march towards central Delhi. As part of the year-long agitation against the three agricultural laws, tens of thousands of farmers gathered at the city borders and entered the capital on tractors on January 26.

Although the rally was allowed on designated routes, some of the protesters breached barricades, deviated from agreed routes and headed towards central Delhi, leading to clashes with police. Some protesters also entered the Red Fort complex and removed the flags of Nishan Sahib and the farmer union from the ramparts. More than 300 police officers were injured in the violence.

On Monday, Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) supporters carrying tricolor slogans broke through police barricades in large numbers as they demanded the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over allegations of paper leak and exam irregularities. Police used force to prevent protesters from marching towards parliament.

Attempts to march towards Parliament or other high-security areas in central Delhi have seen several major protests over the years; The demonstrators tried to voice their demands before the government.

The anti-corruption movement led by Anna Hazare in 2011 was one of the largest popular movements witnessed in the capital. Following Hazare’s arrest, thousands of people gathered outside Tihar Jail before his 13-day fast moved to Ramlila Maidan, where large crowds gathered to demand a stronger Lokpal law.

The 2012 Nirbhaya protests saw thousands of students, young professionals and citizens gather at India Gate and Raisina Hill and then repeatedly attempt to march towards Parliament and Rashtrapati Bhavan. Police responded with water cannon, tear gas and batons to disperse the crowd.

Anti-CAA protests in 2019 and 2020 again saw large demonstrations in Delhi. While student protests at Jamia Millia Islamia and a prolonged sit-in at Shaheen Bagh attracted thousands of people, road closures, heavy police deployment and temporary closure of metro stations became common during the agitation.

The year-long protests by farmers against the three farm laws have also turned Delhi’s borders into major protest sites. After thousands of farmers were stopped from entering the city, they camped in Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur and the demonstrations continued until the Center repealed the laws.

In 2023, several prominent wrestlers protesting at Jantar Mantar tried to march towards the newly opened Parliament building before being stopped and detained by the Delhi Police, attracting nationwide attention.

Monday’s protest once again brought large crowds to the streets of central Delhi, adding to the list of major demonstrations that have emerged in the national capital over the years.