Jantar Mantar protest updates: Wangchuk say did not cut any deal with government; PM Modi thanks people for 'insightful' suggestions on video in another Instagram reel

After being criticised for ending his hunger strike in the presence of Union Ministers, activist Sonam Wangchuk releases a long video message. He said he “did not cut any deal” with the government and ended his hunger strike fearing a crackdown against students at Jantar Mantar.

He added that he wanted the presence of Opposition and CJP members at the hospital, but the “agencies” did not agree. He said that even now he has been kept under restrictions at Medanta Hospital, as he is contemplating moving a contempt petition in the Delhi High Court as it was a violation of the court’s order.

- Vijaita Singh

Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared another video on his Instagram handle, thanking the “youngsters who watched my video yesterday and sent insightful suggestions”.

“Thanks to the youngsters who watched my video yesterday and sent insightful suggestions,” says Mr. Modi.

The Centre has directed the airlifting of 10 more CRPF companies from Chhattisgarh to deploy in Delhi to bolster security measures in view of the student protest underway, officials said on Friday.

The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has also restricted the leaves of its Delhi Metro security unit due to the protests.

Officials told PTI that a security review meeting held in New Delhi on Thursday required all Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) units scheduled to be stationed in the national capital ahead of Independence Day to report early.

They said that about 150 CAPF companies will be deployed in Delhi over the next few days. A CAPF company has about 100 personnel.

About 100 such companies are already in Delhi assisting the local police with law and order duties, officials said.

- PTI

Trinamool Congress president and former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is likely to join the protest against the NEET paper leak and related issues being spearheaded by the Cokroach Janta Party (CJP) at the Jantar Mantar on Monday, sources said.

Ms. Banerjee will visit the protest site to express her solidarity with the students, they said.

Earlier this week, Ms. Banerjee attacked the Centre over the police crackdown on protesters during the CJP’s march to Parliament on July 20, claiming that Prime Minister Narendra Modi “turned his car around and drove away” as the agitators reached near the Parliament complex.

Addressing the Trinamool’s annual July 21 Martyrs’ Day rally in Kolkata, Ms. Banerjee had said she was prepared to join the CJP protest in the national capital if required.

- PTI

The Delhi High Court on Friday refused to entertain a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by NGO Save India Foundation seeking directions to the Delhi Police to initiate criminal action against persons allegedly involved in arson, attacks on police personnel and damage to public property during the July 20 Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest at Jantar Mantar.

A Division Bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia, however, granted the petitioner liberty to approach the competent authorities and directed them to consider its representation in accordance with law.

- ANI

Congress Rajya Sabha MP Pawan Khera on Friday questioned the Centre over the appointment of IAS officer Naresh Pal Gangwar as Higher Education Secretary, alleging subsidy-linked irregularities during his tenure as Secretary to the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying.

Naresh Pal Gangwar was appointed as Secretary of the Department of Higher Education late Thursday night amid the ongoing NEET-UG paper leak row and demands for the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Vineet Joshi has been transferred to the Secretary in the Department of Panchayati Raj.

Speaking to ANI, Pawan Khera emphasised Pradhan’s resignation as a non-negotiable condition for dialogue on the paper leak controversy.

- ANI

Ripples of students’ unrest in Delhi over the NEET paper leak were felt in Kolkata on Friday as clashes broke out between Left-backed protestors and police personnel during a demonstration, prompting security forces to baton-charge and fire tear gas shells to disperse the agitators, a senior officer said.

The protestors blocked the Dorina Crossing area in central Kolkata’s Esplanade, hurled footwear and water bottles at the men in uniform.

The police were seen having a tough time in trying to remove the agitators from the intersection of vital thoroughfares on a working day despite resorting to a mild lathi charge and even firing some tear gas shells.

-PTI

Braving heavy rains, thousands of protesters, including students, took out a march in Pune on Friday demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the alleged NEET paper leak and denouncing the lathi-charge by Delhi Police on demonstrators.

The 4km-long-march from Shaniwarwada, an iconic 18th-century fort, to the District Collector’s office in the heart of the city was organised by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and saw participation from students, working professionals, lawyers and members of various social organisations.

“I am here because my friend’s NEET paper was leaked. I can understand the pain she went through after the paper was leaked (in May) and she had to reappear for the (medical entrance) examination (on June 21),” said Shaista Khan, one of the protesters.

-PTI

In a major bid to bring out serious examination reforms, the National Testing Agency (NTA) has terminated 47 officials from their service. Legal and criminal actions will also be taken against some of these officials. 

This is part of a complete overhaul of the NTA since the controversy over paper leaks.

More reformative actions to follow.

- The Hindu Bureau

Entry gates at Mandi House and Central Secretariat metro stations were reopened on Friday evening, but 15 other stations in central Delhi continued to remain closed for the third consecutive day over security concerns amid the ongoing Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest near Jantar Mantar.

On Friday morning, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) announced that 17 stations - Lok Kalyan Marg, Rajiv Chowk, Patel Chowk, Ramakrishna Ashram Marg, Barakhambha Road, Supreme Court, Seva Teerth, Janpath, Mandi House, Central Secretariat, ITO, Delhi Gate, Indraprastha, Khan Market, Jor Bagh, Shivaji Stadium and Jhandewalan, would remain closed from 7.30 a.m. until further orders. Hours later, on the 18th, the New Delhi metro station was also closed.

At Janpath metro station, the closest station to the protest site at Jantar Mantar, glass panels at the entry were covered with newspapers by CISF personnel as protesters had drawn graffiti across parts of the protest venue.

The interchange facility continued to remain available at Rajiv Chowk, Mandi House and Central Secretariat stations, the DMRC said.

The 17 stations had remained shut on Wednesday and Thursday as well.

- PTI

Clashes broke out between members of the Left students’ organisations and police personnel during a protest in central Kolkata on Friday over the NEET paper leak, prompting security forces to baton-charge and fire tear gas shells to disperse the agitators, a senior officer said.

The protestors blocked the Dorina Crossing area in the Esplanade area and hurled footwear and water bottles at the men in uniform.

The police were seen having a tough time trying to remove the agitators from the intersection of vital thoroughfares on a working day.

Till reports were last received, the police had not managed to disperse the crowd from the region despite resorting to a mild lathi charge and even firing some tear gas shells.

- PTI

The Union Cabinet on Friday approved a draft bill to ensure stricter punishments for paper leaks, including a fine of up to ₹10 crore, hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi made an announcement to this effect, official sources said.

The Cabinet meeting chaired by the Prime Minister at the Parliament House complex approved the draft bill to hand stricter punishments to those involved in paper leaks as compared to the existing law, they said.

The bill will amend ‘The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024’, proposing a minimum punishment of five years’ imprisonment for individuals involved in paper leaks and/or a fine.

It proposes a jail term of up to 10 years and a maximum fine of ₹10 crore in case of organised paper leaks, the sources said.

The present law has provisions for three to five years’ imprisonment for individuals, and five to 10 years’ imprisonment and a minimum fine of ₹1 crore for those involved in the organised crime of cheating and paper leaks.

- PTI

Holding tricolours and placards in their hands, thousands of protesters gathered in central Mumbai’s Dadar area under the banner of Shiv Sena (UBT) on Friday to demand the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

During the ‘Tiranga Morcha’, organised by the Uddhav Thackeray-led party at Shivaji Park, its leader Aaditya Thackeray said he called Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke, urging him not to return home in Maharashtra until Mr. Pradhan steps down from his position.

Speaking at the gathering, Uddhav Thackeray said while the government has the power of ‘lathis’, the protesters have ‘tirangas’ (tricolours) in their hands.

The agitation was held amid the ongoing protests led by the CJP in Delhi, Mumbai and other parts of the country over exam irregularities. In Delhi, the agitation turned violent with security personnel using baton charges, tear gas, and making multiple detentions.

At Shivaji Park, the participants raised slogans of “Azaadi (freedom) from dictatorship and paper leaks” with ‘Vande Materam’ being played in the background. Some of the protesters carried posters of freedom fighter Bhagat Singh and chief architect of the Constitution, Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar.

Uddhav Thackeray said those in power should see the number of people who have turned up for the protest.

- PTI

Legal services organisation Software Freedom Law Center, India, on Friday moved the Delhi High Court against the suspension of mobile internet services in parts of Central Delhi amid the ongoing Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)-led protest at Jantar Mantar against NEET paper leak and alleged examination irregularities.

The counsel for the petitioner mentioned the PIL for urgent hearing before a bench of Chief Justice D.K. Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia, which agreed to list it on Friday.

“This is a PIL against internet shutdown at Jantar Mantar,” the lawyer said, urging the bench to take up the matter at 2.30 p.m.

The PIL, however, could not be listed during the court hours due to certain defects.

- PTI

Amidst scorching heat, high humidity, and overcrowding, the risk of infectious diseases is looming over the Jantar Mantar protest site, with many protesters complaining of headaches and sore throats.

Volunteer doctors present at the site report that the overcrowding and open-air living conditions have left a large number of people grappling with viral infections, dehydration, and other health issues, compounding the difficulties for protesters.

Speaking to PTI, Dr. Shilpa from Punjab’s ‘Five River Heart Association’ said a large number of people are approaching her with complaints of sore throats, headaches and high fever.

Many are sleeping on the ground in the open, increasing the risk of infection, said Dr. Shilpa, who is providing free medical care to protesters at Jantar Mantar.

She said that by Wednesday evening, over 200 people had been administered paracetamol and other related medications.

- PTI

Congress MP Karti Chidambaram on Friday criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s announcement of setting up fast-track courts for dealing with paper leak cases, terming the measure a punishment that fails to effectively deter paper leaks in the country.

Speaking to ANI, Mr. Chidambaram also described the measure as a “post-fact action”, alleging that the government remains unclear on the prevention of systemic paper leaks ahead of the examinations.

“These are all post-fact actions; the government is still not clear on how it’s going to prevent the systemic leaks. This fast-track court action against people who are apparently associated with the leaks is all post-fact. It does not prevent the leaks. Obviously, in the supply chain of the examination papers, there are chinks. What is the government doing to correct that? How are they strengthening that ecosystem to make sure that there are no leaks? Because there is a huge tuition and preparatory course industry, which is raking in lakhs of crores,” he said.

Alleging a nexus between paper setters and coaching centres, claiming that the government has no answer to the lack of “integrity” in exams.

- ANI

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on Friday announced that it would launch a dedicated website to gather photographs and videos from protesters to identify police personnel allegedly involved in the July 20 crackdown during the ‘Sansad Chalo’ march, saying it would seek FIRs against the officers and move court.

Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, CJP spokesperson Saurav Das alleged that police personnel assaulted students and molested women protesters during the police action.

“As we announced earlier, every officer who attacked students, injured them and molested young girls has been warned. We will not remain quiet. We will remember everything,” Mr. Das asserted.

He appealed to protesters to upload photographs and videos of police personnel allegedly involved in the crackdown.

Mr. Das said that if the Delhi Police did not register FIRs against the identified officers, the party would approach the courts.

- PTI

A sharp political war of words erupted in Telangana on Friday following BRS Working President K.T. Rama Rao’s (KTR) protest at Dharna Chowk in solidarity with students protesting the NEET paper leak in Delhi.

Earlier in the day, K.T.R. led a dharna demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and criticised police action against student demonstrators at Jantar Mantar.

K.T.R. stated that as a father of two young children, he was “devastated” to see the police action in Delhi, adding that his protest carried “no political motive” other than expressing solidarity with the nation’s youth.

Hitting back strongly, Telangana BJP Chief N. Ramchander Rao dismissed KTR’s protest as “hypocrisy and double standards,” arguing that the BRS leader had no standing to demonstrate at Dharna Chowk.

- ANI

According to sources close to the Delhi Police, “Facial Recognition System (FRS) cameras have been installed at various locations” around Jantar Mantar to “prevent anti-social elements, criminals, wanted criminals, or anti-social elements from entering the Jantar Mantar protest”.

“Previously, Delhi Police had installed FRS cameras at various locations for security purposes during major events in Delhi, such as January 26th, August 15th, Holi, Diwali, Eid, and Ramlila. It is completely false to claim that these cameras have been installed around Jantar Mantar in New Delhi district with the intention of spying on the Jantar Mantar protesters. Delhi Police and central agencies have received inputs that cross-border terrorist organizations are also monitoring the student protests and conspiring to disrupt the national atmosphere,” the sources say.

BJP MP Anurag Thakur on Friday accused the opposition leaders of making “political gains” with the student-led movement, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, and lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s announcement of a fast-track court for paper leak cases.

The Parliament has witnessed a deadlock on the NEET-UG paper leak issue, where the government has called for discussion while the Opposition has demanded Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation and debate under Rule 267, adjourning the business of the Upper House, as conditions for the debate.

Anurag Thakur told ANI, “On one side, there is an opposition, which wants to make political gains on the shoulders of the youth, and on the other side there are protesters, who want more transparency in the examination process, do not want any future paper leaks, and want strict action against the current paper leak. As far as the NEET paper leak is concerned, the 13 culprits have been arrested and sent to jail. Now, Prime Minister Modi has also talked about setting up a fast-track court to ensure that they get the harshest punishment soon.”

BJP MP Tarun Chugh also echoed a similar sentiment, stating that the Centre has been working to support students and punish culprits involved in the NEET paper leak. He also accused the Opposition parties of “hijacking” the students’ movement.

- ANI

With the Delhi University and the Jawaharlal University warning students to “stay away” from Jantar Mantar protests, the Congress on Friday slammed the Modi government and said that it is now using these much-respected universities as propaganda outlets to bully the students.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said that instead of making Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resign and then start a meaningful discussion on the education system, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have resorted to denigrating the centres of learning.

He said students are on ground zero because the Modi government is now using these much-respected universities as propaganda outlets to bully them.

“Instead of making Dharmendra Pradhan resign and then start a meaningful discussion on the education system, Modi-Shah have resorted to denigrating our centres of learning. Now you know why our youth are on the streets. Now you know how BJP damaged the education system in the past 12 years,” Mr. Kharge said.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday slammed the Delhi University and asked how it dared “threaten” students for exercising their democratic rights.

The Delhi High Court on Friday refused to entertain a PIL seeking a probe by the NIA or any “specialised agency” into the Cockroach Janta Party-led march to Parliament on July 20 to protest against the NEET paper leak and other related issues.

A bench of Chief Justice D.K. Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia said the alleged incidents of vandalism were in the knowledge and notice of the authorities, who would take action according to the law.

The bench also said under the law, it was for the Centre to refer any case to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for investigation, and not the court.

“If there is an FIR, recourse to the NIA has to be taken by the respective government. How can this be a PIL? You are asking for an opinion that these are fit cases. This job has been entrusted to the central government,” the court remarked while hearing the PIL by Satish Kumar Aggarwal, ex-vice president of the Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha.

“You approach the authorities; they will take action,” the bench told the petitioner, who also sought identification of “all persons responsible for acts of violence, vandalism, obstruction of emergency services, damage to public and private property and other offences” and registration of an FIR against them.

- PTI

Advocates practising at the Aurangabad bench of the Bombay High Court on Friday staged a protest here to denounce the Delhi Police crackdown on the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) student march towards Parliament earlier this week.

The protest by members of the Advocates Association was held at Kranti Chowk in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar city (formerly Aurangabad) of central Maharashtra.

The advocates extended their support to the ongoing agitation of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and shouted slogans backing the stir launched late last month.

A lady advocate participating in the agitation in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar said injustice was meted out to students who took to the streets in a peaceful manner to express their grievances in a democratic way.

- PTI

The Supreme Court on Friday agreed to hear on July 27 petitions alleging excessive police action against students who participated in protests at Jantar Mantar and other places across the country over examination paper leaks.

The matter was mentioned before a bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana by senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, saying two petitions concerning the alleged violence against protesters have been filed.

Mr. Sankaranarayanan submitted that the petitions related to incidents of alleged police violence during student protests and involve multiple states as parties.

He said the petitions had not been mentioned earlier because they were awaiting diary numbers.

Stressing the urgency of the issue, he told the bench that reports of police excesses against students were continuing and called for immediate judicial intervention.

- ANI

For thousands of office-goers who once relied on the Delhi Metro and cab services to reach work in the Lutyens’ zone, walking has become the only option, as barricading around Jantar Mantar in response to the ongoing protest continues.

With the metro shut and cab drivers reluctant to enter the cordoned-off stretch, commuters said they are trudging kilometres through bylanes every morning and evening just to get to work or back home.

Officials posted in the area said the closures are for security reasons, given the scale of the demonstration and its proximity to Parliament.

- PTI

The Rapid Action Force (RAF) has initiated an inquiry into allegations of its personnel using disproportionate force and firing pellet guns during the ongoing student protests in Delhi, officials said on Friday.

The officials told PTI that the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has asked the inspector general (IG) of the RAF, its special anti-riots unit, to verify the sequence of events its various teams undertook to “control” the protesters as well as incidents where they were attacked.

CRPF officials said a formal Court of Inquiry (CoI) has not been initiated into these incidents yet. They said such a probe will be ordered once this verification exercise reveals the facts.

The officials said the RAF has taken cognisance of multiple social media videos and photos featuring its personnel in blue dungarees. They include footage showing them deploying guns and sticks and undertaking a lathi-charge, alongside videos where its personnel were surrounded and attacked by the crowd.

- PTI

The mother of a NEET aspirant who died in May addressed a protest event in Nagpur on Friday and sought the resignation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan for exam paper leaks and other irregularities.

The protest, in support of the Cockroach Janta Party-led agitation in New Delhi, saw hundreds of youth gathering at Samvidhan Square in Nagpur.

Speaking at the protest event, she sought justice for her daughter, who allegedly died by suicide due to distress and depression caused by the cancellation of the NEET-UG exam after a paper leak.

“The children who committed suicide cannot be brought back,” she said while seeking compensation for the kin of such students. She also sought the resignation of Mr. Pradhan and PM Modi.

- PTI

A birthday fund meant for an iPad is now paying for metro rides, meals and days spent at Jantar Mantar.

For an 18-year-old student from Jaipur, the ₹15,000 she had collected over her 16th and 17th birthdays from parents, grandparents and relatives was supposed to mark the beginning of college life. Instead, it is helping her remain at the protest site in Delhi, where the crowd has steadily grown over the past few days.

“I had been saving since the past few years. Every birthday, I would keep the money aside because I wanted to buy an iPad before college. I had planned everything,” she said.

When the protests began, those plans changed. “I thought about it for a day and realised I could always save for an iPad again. But I may not get another chance to stand up for something that will affect my future. If this movement succeeds, that will matter much more than any gadget,” she said.

She is staying with a friend in Delhi while using the money for food, travel and other daily expenses so she can continue attending the demonstrations. “I don’t feel like I’ve lost anything. If anything, I feel like I’m spending my birthday money on something that actually gives me hope,” she added.

- PTI

Videos surfaced on social media on Friday showing a man asserting he resigned from the Delhi Police as a constable in support of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest at Jantar Mantar, a claim authorities rejected.

The Directorate General Home Guards, Delhi Government, said in an X post that the individual posting reels/videos on Instagram as Ravi Lovey has been identified as Ravi Kumar. “He is not a Delhi Police constable and has no association with the Delhi Police,” the directorate said.

In a viral video, the individual claimed that he is a Delhi Police jawan holding a good position.

“The day I got to know that the protest would take place, I went on medical leave. I got a call again that my leave was finished. I want to extend my medical leave. The Delhi Police denied extending my medical leave,” he can be heard saying.

He alleged that the police force “pressurised him” to join the force and he resigned.

“Quarter nahi chahiye, sarkari gadi nahi chahiye, sarkari salary nahi chahiye” (I don’t want a quarter, government vehicle or government’s salary),” he said.

According to the DG Home Guards, Ravi Kumar was serving as a volunteer with the Delhi Home Guards, which functions under the Directorate General of Home Guards, a separate organisation from the Delhi Police. “In view of his misconduct, he has been discharged from the Delhi Home Guards with immediate effect,” it said.

- PTI

The “violence” against female students during the protests in New Delhi shows how hollow the BJP-led Union government’s ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ slogan is, claimed Congress leader Shobha Oza in Bhopal on Friday.

These students were not only injured but also subjected to all manner of brutal acts, molestation, obscenity, and verbal abuse, Ms. Oza, former All India Women Congress president, told reporters.

“The terrifying scenes clearly demonstrate how hollow the slogan ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ is for the ruling BJP,” she said while alleging that the brutality of the police force has crossed all limits during the ongoing student protests in Delhi.

The students were hit on the face, legs, etc., she said. Such barbarity was witnessed for the first time in history, Ms. Oza added.

Ms. Oza said the Narendra Modi government, “stunned by the large number of protesters who had gathered at Jantar Mantar to demonstrate peacefully”, vented its anger on the protest leaders instead of accepting the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

- PTI

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray on Friday alleged that the Delhi police’s crackdown on the Cockroach Janta Party’s ‘Sansad Chalo’ march seemed like an act of “revenge” rather than crowd control.

Mr. Thackeray, in a post on X, questioned the alleged use of force against students protesting the NEET paper leak, and remarked that if teachers face action for meting out corporal punishments, the same should apply to the police who assaulted students and those who ordered them to do so.

“One can understand if the police had resorted to mild lathi-charge to disperse protesting students, but what was witnessed appeared like some kind of revenge,” he wrote.

He claimed that videos circulating on social media showed not only protesting students but also several bystanders being beaten during the police action, alleging that such force would not have been used without orders from higher authorities.

- PTI

“It has been a very successful movement for us as it has awakened the entire country. Hope it also serves as a wake-up call to the present regime,” said Gitanjali J. Angmo, wife of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk. She was speaking with the mediapersons outside Medanta Hospital on Friday.

-Ashok Berwal

RSS national executive member Indresh Kumar urged climate activist Sonam Wangchuk to keep his agitation “Indian” after the latter ended his hunger strike, alleging that “foreign forces” had taken over the movement and warning the youth against becoming “agents” of anti-national elements. 

“These are separate in nature. Sonam Wangchuk is one person, and the CJP is totally different. Political parties too have different agendas. They have mixed it together to defame everyone’s character. That is why Sonam Wangchuk has distanced himself from it.

“I would say that he should understand that his movement has been taken over by foreigners. Therefore, he should keep his movement Indian. He should not become a puppet of foreigners,” Mr. Kumar told reporters.

-PTI

The Delhi High Court on Friday refused to entertain a PIL seeking a probe by the NIA or any “specialised agency” into the Cockroach Janta Party-led march to Parliament on July 20 to protest against the NEET-UG paper leak and other related issues.

A bench of Chief Justice D.K. Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia said the alleged incidents of vandalism were given the knowledge and notice of the authorities, who would take action according to the law.

The bench also said it was for the Centre to refer any case to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for investigation, and not the court.

-PTI

“The Central Government has expressed its agreement to provide compensation to the families of the deceased students and to withdraw the FIRs registered against the protesters, but we will accept nothing less than the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan. We have given the government 24 hours to consider this,” said a representative of the Cockroach Janta Party.

-Vijaita Singh

After his meeting with representatives of the Cockroach Janta Party, Union MInister J.P. Nadda said that the representatives will meet again on Saturday for further talks.

-PTI

We told the Union ministers that our demand for the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan is non-negotiable, says CJP’s Saurav Das after the meeting with the Government.

“We have demanded ₹1 crore compensation for families of suicide victims, and that FIR against protesters should be withdrawn,” he said.

-PTI

A crucial meeting between representatives of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and the government is underway at the Vithalbhai Patel House on Friday as part of efforts to reach an amicable solution to the outfit’s demands regarding exam irregularities.

While the government is represented by Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda and Minister of State for PMO Jitendra Singh, the CJP was represented by its national spokesperson Saurav Das and another youth.

This was the third official meeting between the CJP and the government.

-PTI

Nearly 500 students marched through central Hyderabad on Friday (July 24, 2026) afternoon as part of a Statewide bandh called by student organisations, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the alleged NEET paper leak controversy and condemning the police action against protesters during the recent Parliament march in Delhi.

Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia assured that anyone playing with the future of students would face strict punishment, stating that the government would set up fast-track courts to ensure speedy justice in cases of paper leaks.

Speaking to reporters in Gwalior, Mr. Scindia described the NEET paper leak as “wrong” and emphasised that protecting hard-working students is the utmost responsibility of every government.

PTI

New Delhi metro station has been closed till further instructions. No interchange facility shall be available at this station, according to the post on X. 

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“Last night, the Education Secretary was transferred. He was replaced by an IAS officer from the Animal Husbandry Department who has severe multi-crore corruption charges against him,” Mr. Dipke wrote on X.

“The entire crisis around paper leaks and NEET was about systemic corruption. Replacing one bureaucrat with another facing serious corruption allegations is a direct INSULT to young people across India,” he added.

Chief Justice of India Surya Kant on Friday (July 24, 2026) dismissed as “reckless” media reports that he had denied urgent hearing on a plea challenging the July 20 police action against students, saying it was only a representation and not a petition.

No such petition was filed, he stated. “In the last two days, a completely false statement was made that a matter was filed, and the media is absolutely free from all responsibility and falsely reporting that the Chief Justice refused to list the matter,” he said.

PTI

Sonam Wangchuk termed the end of his 26-day hunger strike the “beginning of accountability”, saying he decided to call off the fast only after receiving assurances from the government and MPs across parties on his key demands for examination reforms and protection of the peaceful protesters.

The educator-activist also said that he extended his fast by two days because negotiations with the Centre were continuing.

Hearing a PIL seeking an NIA probe into the CJP-led Jantar Mantar protest, the Chief Justice observed that the law lays down a specific process - an FIR must first be registered, the matter forwarded by the State to the Centre, and only then can the Centre decide whether it is a fit case for an NIA investigation.

“You are asking us to form an opinion on the fitness of the case. That task has been entrusted to the Central government. Can we substitute its view?” the Bench remarked.

The matter will be heard again at 2.30 p.m. today.

Rocky Soibam

Delhi Police Mobile Command and Control Vehicles, including Ikshana vehicles are capturing live footage of the protest and scanning protesters on site at Jantar Mantar.

Photo credit: Srimanshi Kaushik

After DU, JNU has asked students to refrain from participating in protest in or around Jantar Mantar. JNU said in a notice on Friday, “All stakeholders of JNU’s epistemic community are advised to act responsibly and prioritise their personal safety. In accordance with the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India’s directions on public demonstrations, you are requested to refrain from participating in or visiting gatherings at or around Jantar Mantar, New Delhi.” ​

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Criticising Delhi university’s restrictions on protest, Rahul Gandhi said, “How dare you threaten students for exercising their democratic rights? Please note, you are the ones that will be held accountable when the time comes.”

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Photo credit: Suruchi Kumari

CJP spokesperson Sourav Das said, “If narrative is being pushed that we are foreign funded, why is the government engaging with Sonam Wangchuk? Why is the government engaging with us?

We also know PILs are being filed against the movement in courts. NIA probe as been requested through PIL, we request the judges of the country to not let their order politicise or weaponised by political considerations. We request the judges to stand on the right side of the history, stand with the future of the country who are out on road for so those days.”- Suruchi Kumari

Abhijeet Dipke said that the police must take back all the cases it has registered on protesters who joined the Parliament March on July 20.

Answering a question, he said the protest will go on. “Now the entire country has joined us. We will not step back until we get the resignation.” Mr. Dipke said.

- Suruchi Kumari

“Ashutosh and I have been called at 12.30 p.m. to meet J.P. Nadda and Jitendra Singh,” Saurav Das said while addressing a press conference. “We had kept two demands, including non-negotiables, after the first round of talks. The meeting will take place at a neutral place instead of their house and office. Yesterday, we got a confirmation that the meeting will take place at the Constitution Club,” he added.

-Suruchi Kumari

Internet shutdown around Jantar Mantar reaches the Delhi High Court. On being mentioned, the HC agreed to hear the PIL on an urgent basis on Friday (July 24, 2026).

-Rocky Soibam

CJP spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka says, “We want to make it very clear that until Dharmendra Pradhan resigns, the protest at Jantar Mantar will continue.”- ANI

CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke said on Friday, “Physically I’m still feeling weak due to fever, but the fight must go on. Our peaceful protest at Jantar Mantar will continue until Dharmendra Pradhan resigns.”

Two days after ​The Hindu’s report on use of pellet guns​ by the Rapid Action Force (RAF) against unarmed protesters during July 20 march to Parliament, a CRPF official said that they are “verifying media reports” on the issue. The official said no action taken so far, veracity is still being ascertained. 

Earlier, Delhi Police had denied the usage of pellet guns against protesters. Pellet guns and shock-batons are part of RAF’s gear, which worked alongside Delhi Police and was deployed in and around Jantar Mantar on July 20. RAF is the specialised anti-riot unit of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).

- Vijaita Singh

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The Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday (July 24, 2026), said in a post on X addressing PM Modi, “Before coming to Parliament today, come after dismissing Dharmendra Pradhan. First, apologise to the students and take strict action against those who ordered the use of lathis, batons, and Pellet Guns to suppress the students’ voices. Then we are ready for a detailed Discussion on the education system.”

More than two decades after the 2003 Common Admission Test (CAT) paper leak, two Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) cases against Ranjit Singh alias Ranjit “Don” — described as an “education mafia” figure in some media reports — remain pending before courts in Delhi and Patna. The Patna case is at the trial stage, while the proceedings in the other case are yet to reach that point.

Read the full story here,

Congress general secretary (communications) Jairam Ramesh said on Friday (July 24, 2026), “The desperate and hassled-looking Pradhan Mantri finally broke his two-month-long silence late last night via a video message to speak on paper leaks. Remember that the Modi Sarkar has long denied that the NEET-UG 2026 exam was leaked. The Mantri Pradhan deliberately refused to use the word leak in his press conference and the Education Ministry officially denied that a paper leak occurred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education. It is only the outpouring of public anger over the last two months that has made the Pradhan Mantri accept the truth.”

DMRC has closed 17 stations from 07:30 a.m. on Friday (July 24, 2026) until further notice due to heightened security concerns amid the ongoing protests at Jantar Mantar. ​

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“The Modi government routinely uses violence in preference to dialogue. The pattern is clear, from farmers to activists. But this week, even a government as insensitive as the one that has set new standards of authoritarian governance, sank to a new low. Instead of reaching out with understanding to our future doctors and engineers, teachers and civil servants, entrepreneurs and nation builders, it unleashed the repressive power of the state on them. This can neither be forgiven or forgotten,” writes Sonia Gandhi.

Maintaining pressure on the government both inside and outside Parliament, the Opposition refused the government’s offer of a debate on paper leaks, arguing that any discussion must be preceded by the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Later in the evening, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi led INDIA bloc MPs in a symbolic march to Gandhi Smriti on Tees January Marg, where Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated, expressing solidarity with students protesting against paper leaks.

Read the story here,

With a nationwide protest call on Friday (July 24, 2026), Delhi University on Thursday evening asked its students to “stay away from Jantar Mantar” and prioritise safety and compliance with the law. The advisory comes amid criticism from students and teachers after the university and some colleges backed the government’s actions.

Read the story here,

Three days after several videos of police using disproportionate force, including pellet guns, against unarmed men and women during the July 20 march to Parliament emerged on social media, the Delhi Police and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had yet to issue a statement or clarify their position.

Read the story here,

Saurav Das, Chief Spokesperson, Cockroach Janta Party, says, “... , a discussion has been called for, we are very happy that the government has agreed to our request that it be at a neutral venue. The Constitution Club of India has been chosen...”- ANI

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has said the “strictest action” the government could take against examination irregularities was to remove Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, reacting to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s announcement that a bill providing for stringent action against paper leaks would be introduced in Parliament.

CJP national spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka, in response to the prime minister’s remarks, said, “Modi ji, remove Dharmendra Pradhan tomorrow. That’s the strictest action you can take.” CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke also reacted to the Prime Minister’s announcement by taking to X to share an image of a man locking the gate of a compound with no boundary walls, in an apparent swipe at the proposed legislation.

-PTI

Activist Sonam Wangchuk ended his indefinite hunger strike after the government assured him that his demands would be met.

He announced the end of his fast after Union Ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh met him at the Medanta Hospital in Gurugram around Thursday midnight and conveyed the government’s assurances.

“Just now in the presence of Union Ministers JP Nadda, Dr Jitendra Singh and the senior leaders of the Apex Body of Leh Ladakh, I finally broke my fast after 26 days,” Wangchuk said in a post on X.

-PTI