"We, UPSC aspirants, were here to buy some clothes. But when we saw students abusing our Prime Minister, we could not resist ourselves and protested against them," said Punit Upmanyu, who along with about 10 more youths, raised slogans.
They were stopped near B block of the Connaught Place by security forces, while the JNU students continued their protest.
Earlier, the JNU students formed a human chain in inner circle of the Connaught Place, one of national capital's most visited places. They were accompanied by students from different institutions, including Jamia Millia Islamia, AIIMS and IIT-Delhi.
"We are here to show that our brothers and sisters in the JNU are not alone in their fight to get their democratic right of education," said Iqbal, a Phd student from Jamia.
Speaking at the protest, JNUSU president Aishe Ghosh claimed the protest was aimed at bringing down fee hikes in most public-funded education institutes and also revamp JNU's image.
"People think the JNU as an institute is anti-establishment. But it's an institute that fights for everyone's democratic rights," Ghosh said. "We are happy that after the JNU, students from other institutes have also raised their voices against the unjustified fee hikes there," Ghosh said.
Demanding rollback of the proposed hostel fee hike, JNU students joined hands in the market and raised slogans against the step. "Jo shikshit nahi wo viksit nahi," (one who is not educated, is not developed), "Fees must come down," were some of the slogans that attracted shoppers attention.
The JNU students have been protesting against the varsity administration's move to hike hostel, mess and security fee, reportedly by 400 per cent. It has also limited the hostel timings.
While the JNU administration later announced a 50 per cent concession for those belonging to the BPL (below the poverty line) category, the students rejected that terming it as an eye wash and demanded total rollback.
However. on Tuesday, the varsity further extended the concession on services and utility charges, which would benefit all students and not just BPL students.
( With inputs from IANS )