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From June 7, when the first protest was held at Jantar Mantar by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP),
Pictures by Lakshman Anand

their story has been best told in images which are proof of the wide support
Pictures by Lakshman Anand

they have received and the enormous energy that has been unleashed.
Pictures by Lakshman Anand

Jantar Mantar has been the epicentre of an outpouring against the education system in the country.
Pictures by Lakshman Anand

Students have been at the heart of the agitation.
Pictures by Lakshman Anand

But anguished citizens of all ages from different walks of life have also shown up to be counted.
Pictures by Lakshman Anand

June and July are the worst months in Delhi to hold an agitation.
Pictures by Lakshman Anand

Pictures by Lakshman Anand

Yet, people showed up organically,
Pictures by Lakshman Anand

braving the hot and humid weather and
Pictures by Lakshman Anand

sticking it out for hours at the protest site.
Pictures by Lakshman Anand

Till July 20, the agitation was given the miss by
Pictures by Lakshman Anand

the big newspapers and channels,
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following instructions from the Modi government.
Pictures by Lakshman Anand

And when it could be ignored no more conspiracy
Pictures by Lakshman Anand

theories abounded in the media about the involvement of rowdy elements.
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Mantar was attracting tens and thousands of ordinary folks
Pictures by Lakshman Anand

— from the elderly to the young and even children.
Pictures by Lakshman Anand

Families turned up.
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It was on these innocent protesters that the Delhi Police cracked down leaving scores of them injured and terrorized.
Pictures by Lakshman Anand

If the idea was to deter protesters, the police action had the opposite effect.
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Thousands more poured in.
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And thousands more will stream in. Because the Cockroach Janta Party is now a national youth movement.
Pictures by Lakshman Anand

