'If needed, I'll come to Delhi': Mamata Banerjee likely to join CJP's Jantar Mantar protest

One protest, and now the Opposition queue seems to be getting longer. What began as a student-led agitation over the alleged NEET paper leak has steadily evolved into a wider political flashpoint, with Trinamool Congress (TMC) president Mamata Banerjee now likely to join the CJP's protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar on Monday.

According to sources, Banerjee is expected to visit the protest site to express solidarity with students participating in the agitation against the alleged paper leak and related issues.

Her expected visit comes just days after she sharply criticised the Centre over the police action during the CJP's July 20 march to Parliament. Speaking at the TMC's annual July 21 Martyrs' Day rally in Kolkata, Banerjee alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi 'turned his car around and drove away' when protesters reached near the Parliament complex.

At the same rally, she had declared that she was willing to personally join the protest in the national capital if the situation demanded it.

Referring to the clashes during the Parliament march, Banerjee also accused the BJP-led government of crossing the limits of authoritarianism in its handling of the demonstrators.

The TMC was among the earliest Opposition parties to back the CJP after its formation publicly.

Party MPs Kirti Azad and Mahua Moitra had extended support through social media, while Moitra and Rajya Sabha MP Saket Gokhale later visited the protest site at Jantar Mantar.

Another Trinamool Rajya Sabha MP, Sagarika Ghose, was part of a delegation that met activist Sonam Wangchuk and appealed to him to end his fast.

Meanwhile, Gokhale has launched an initiative asking students and protesters to submit photographs, videos and other material related to the July 20 police action.

He said the evidence would be used to identify the police personnel involved and support legal proceedings against them.