Mumbaikars gather in hordes in people-led march

Protestors gather in support of Cockroach Janta Party and demand Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation, near Shivaji Park in Mumbai | Photo Credit: PTI

Denied permission to protest at Shivaji Park Dadar, at least 1,500 people marched in the city to voice solidarity with the Jantar Mantar protest.

For the last four days, students, parents and sympathisers have been gathering at Shivaji Park to demand the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and stand in solidarity with those demanding accountability from the government for NEET paper leak. Initially youths gathered in groups of 3-4 at the Shivaji Park gate. However, police vehicle detaining groups and - as people gathered in larger numbers - asked people to disperse. Around two police vans were seen to be filled with protesters. Following this, the people decided to march and circle back to Shivaji Park.

College graduates and legal students who joined the march decried the central government and Delhi police for the brutality that was seen in the metro’s streets on Monday. 

Mothers who had joined in the march condemned the government for turning a deaf ears on the children’s demands. 

“I’m here only in support of the children. What was their crime? They brought them roses and they answered with lathis. Why couldn’t the government have a dialogue with them?”, said Ekta Srivastava, a local stylist.

Meanwhile, local residents speaking to businessline praised the protesters for their bravery.

“We elected this government. Do we not have the right to question them?,” said Yogesh Kailas Navle, a local resident, whose wife watched the crowd with teary arms.

Civilians were not the only ones in support of the march. A police officer deployed at the spot said, “There are 300 personnel deployed on the road, near the Park and at the railway and metro stations. What’s the need? This is a peaceful march. Does it require such a huge deployment?”

Of course not everyone was allied with the cause. Some elderly locals claimed a ruckus and insensitivity by the gathered protesters who “had no idea what was going on with the paper leak.” However, the police confirmed a peaceful march throughout the day.

Further, in a tongue in the cheek moment, actor Imran Khan attending the protest, said to businessline, “I feel the people who criticise the students in this way hold the children to a higher accountability than the established authorities.”

The protesters numbers swelled as the march went on to the point that even the police failed to estimate a guess of the crowd size.

“These many people cannot even be detained,” said another police officer on anonymity.

What started at 4:30 pm concluded at 6:30 pm from Cafe Trofima near Shivaji Park to the Portugese Church then Plaza Cinema and back to Shivaji Park. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Aditya Thackeray appeared at the end of the march and asked the people to gather again July 24. This despite a Section 144 enforcement by the police from July 23 to August 6. Police officials said this is a “routine call” but refused to explain further.

 Meanwhile, some protesters, who were stopped midway by the police, continued to protest till 8 pm in the night.

In other regions such as Chembur around 800 people gathered and multiple vans detained.

Published on July 22, 2026