Cockroach Janata Party spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka said Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s social media reels would not halt the student movement. In remarks reported on July 25, Ranka called for concrete action to meet students’ demands before making videos. He also demanded the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan and said the government had begun talking with students.

Ranka alleged that Delhi Police were preventing protesters from reaching the demonstration site at Jantar Mantar. Sharing screenshots of several messages on social media, he said authorities could not stop people from coming to Jantar Mantar, delivering food to protesters or assisting them. He further alleged that police were visiting restaurants and intimidating them to prevent food orders from reaching the site.

In a Saturday statement, CJP said Delhi Police’s authoritarian actions were increasing in and around Jantar Mantar. The party urged the administration to stop illegally detaining, harassing or obstructing citizens who wished to go there and to avoid creating an intimidating environment. Security was tightened in several parts of Delhi as participation grew in the CJP-led protest.