Updates: Sonam Wangchuk says he will continue fast, condemns police ‘brutality’ during CJP protest

Activist Sonam Wangchuk on Monday evening said he would continue his hunger strike after seeing the “brutality” that protesters faced during the Cockroach Janta Party’s march from Delhi’s Jantar Mantar towards Parliament earlier in the day.

He said his fast would continue until youth leaders are allowed to meet parliamentarians, or till he is permitted to meet them at Delhi’s Safdarjung Hospital.

“I am touched and moved by how the youth have held on to peace despite provocation,” the activist said in a note from the hospital.

Earlier in the day, the Cockroach Janta Party accused security personnel of firing tear gas shells at protesters marching to Parliament. It alleged that the police resorted to a “brutal lathi-charge” and described its actions as a “black day” for democracy.

The campaign has been demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan for the alleged mismanagement of competitive examinations.

Here’s more on this and other top updates:

Tear gas shells fired, security beefed up at Parliament

• The Cockroach Janta Party asked why the police had resorted to “tear gas assault on peaceful protesters”. “Sir Narendra Modi, have you decided we are no longer a democracy?” asked the campaign. “First your government ignored this protest for a month and now when we are peacefully marching your government is attacking us.”
• Members of the Cockroach Janta...

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