The protest momentum that began in the national capital has now spilled into the streets of Kolkata, as the ‘Cockroach Janata Party’ (CJP) mobilised supporters for a demonstration on Friday. The protest was aimed at expressing solidarity with social activist Sonam Wangchuk over his prolonged hunger strike, while also raising concerns about alleged flaws in the examination system, particularly the NEET issue.
Initially, the Kolkata unit of the CJP had planned a separate march from College Square to Rani Rashmoni Avenue at 4 pm. However, the plan had to be revised after the Kolkata Police did not grant permission for the procession.
Following the denial, organisers opted to merge their participation with a pre-approved rally led by Left-wing student groups. This joint procession is scheduled to begin from the Sealdah station area at 2:30 pm and proceed towards Esplanade via S.N. Banerjee Road.
Dedipya Gangopadhyay, a representative of the CJP in Kolkata, said that the party had to cancel its independent march due to the lack of police clearance. “There was some misunderstanding. We had planned a march from College Street to Dharmatala at 4 pm, but without permission, it could not go ahead. People who wish to participate are free to join the Sealdah march, though it will not be held under the CJP banner,” he stated.
He added that groups such as ‘Students of Bengal’ and other Left-leaning student organisations are participating in the Sealdah rally, which will proceed as scheduled.
Organisers said the decision to merge with the existing march was also taken to minimize disruption to the public and avoid administrative complications. By consolidating into a single procession, they aim to reduce congestion and ensure smoother coordination with authorities.
Meanwhile, police sources indicated that the administration had anticipated significant traffic disruption if two separate processions converged on Esplanade through different routes. Concerns were particularly high for key arterial roads such as SN Banerjee Road, AJC Bose Road, Central Avenue, and College Street, which are prone to heavy congestion during large gatherings.
Also read: CJP calls nationwide protest against ‘brutal’ police action
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