LIVE | Govt wants to lay siege to Jantar Mantar: CJP; 47 NTA officials sacked
Meanwhile, Opposition parties protested at Parliament, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, while Lok Sabha was adjourned till Monday
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 (July 23) and conveyed the government's assurances.
Also read: CJP protests expose Modi's Achilles' heel: A government unused to listening
"Just now in the presence of Union Ministers JP Nadda, Dr Jitendra Singh and the senior leaders of Apex Body of Leh Ladakh, I finally broke my fast after 26 days," Wangchuk said in a post on X.
PM's X post for Wangchuk
After Wangchuk announced the end of his hunger strike, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a post on X, "I urge Sonam ji to follow his daily routine as advised by the doctors and regain his weight as soon as possible." "I pray to the Almighty that Sonam ji remains healthy," the prime minister added.
Also read: Degrees, dreams, and despair: Why India’s young graduates are on the streets
Reading out the government's assurances to Wangchuk in the presence of his wife Gitanjali Angmo and others at the hospital, Nadda said, "The government is positive on not registering cases against those protesting peacefully at Jantar Mantar in Delhi and those who participated in the march to Parliament on July 20, 2026." The Union Health Minister further said that the government has already assured discussions in Parliament on paper leaks and education reforms for exams.
"Besides, the government is also positively considering suitable compensation for the suicide victims of recent NEET paper leaks," Nadda added.
Also read: From slaps, social media ridicule to threats: Police brutality under fire amid CJP protests
Wangchuk said that a total of 65 Members of Parliament from different political parties had visited or signed letters urging him to break the fast.
"This was done after long negotiations on various conditions and in view of possible violence in the country. I will explain the conditions in detail in a separate video very soon. Meanwhile, I urge you all to stay very vigilant about not allowing violence of any kind anywhere," he said in his post on X.
CJP 'relieved and grateful'
The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on Friday said it was "relieved and grateful" that activist Sonam Wangchuk had ended his 26-day hunger strike, but asserted that its peaceful protest at Jantar Mantar would continue until Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigns.
Also read: Salman, Kareena, Alia...How aloof Bollywood found its voice to back student protests
In a post on X, CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke thanked Wangchuk for his "extraordinary courage and sacrifice".
"We are relieved and grateful that Sonam sir has ended his hunger strike after 26 days. Thank you, sir, for your extraordinary courage and sacrifice. By putting your own life on the line, you awakened the conscience of an entire nation. Your life is far too precious to this country," Dipke said.
"The Cockroach Janta Party's peaceful protest at Jantar Mantar will continue until Dharmendra Pradhan resigns," he added.
Rahul attacks PM Modi, lists 3 demands
Meanwhile, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday night attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for sidestepping the issue of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation in his video message released just before midnight.
In a post on X, Rahul said the prime minister should not insult the intelligence of students.
"Mr Modi, our students are demanding Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation. Don't insult their intelligence with this pathetic midnight video. 1. Sack Pradhan. 2. Punish those who beat students. 3. Apologise," the leader of opposition said in his post.
Prime Minister Modi announced that his government would take strict action against paper leaks and would discuss and finalise a law in this regard in Friday's meeting of the Union Cabinet.
Modi announced on Thursday that a Bill containing provisions for strong action against paper leaks will be introduced in Parliament next week.
In a video message, Modi also said the contours of the bill will be discussed at the cabinet meeting where the proposed legislation will be finalised.
The cabinet will discuss the issue of paper leaks on Friday, and taking suggestions of the cabinet colleagues, further action will be finalised.
"On Monday, when the second week of the Monsoon session of Parliament will begin, a bill will be brought with provisions for strong action against paper leaks, and we will try to pass it as early as possible," he said.
Follow live updates of CJP protest, Parliament monsoon session, here.
Live Updates
- 24 July 2026 9:14 PM IST
NTA terminates 47 officials in major overhaul over NEET paper leak row
In a major crackdown in the NEET paper leak controversy, the National Testing Agency terminated 47 officials and is set to pursue legal and criminal action against some, officials said on Friday.
The move comes a day after Higher Education Secretary Vineet Joshi was shunted out to the Panchayati Raj Ministry.
"The NTA is set to undergo an overhaul and more reformative actions will follow. At least 47 officials have been terminated, and legal and criminal action will be initiated against some of them," a senior official said.
Outrage surrounding paper leaks and the CBSE digital evaluation glitches has triggered a series of shunting of top officials.
Students' anger has spilt out in the form of a huge protest that is taking place at Jantar Mantar.
- 24 July 2026 8:46 PM IST
Government wants to lay siege to Jantar Mantar, alleges CJP
CJP spokesperson Saurav Das said, "The government wants to lay siege to Jantar Mantar. It wants to restrict food and water supplies, sanitation facilities, medical assistance, power supply, and people's movement to the protest site. How much lower will it stoop? But remember, this only strengthens the resolve of those who refuse to surrender."
- 24 July 2026 8:13 PM IST
Videos, call records, social media posts made during July 20 clash under police scanner
Delhi Police are examining thousands of videos, social media broadcasts and mobile phone records to identify those involved in the July 20 clashes and establish whether the July 20 violence was pre-planned or erupted spontaneously, sources said on Friday.
Experts are analysing mobile phone recordings, CCTV footage, livestreams and social media content to identify individuals seen attacking police personnel and damaging public property, they said.
"Teams will investigate videos uploaded on various social media platforms, besides content circulated on messaging application groups," a police source said. The police are trying to match faces, clothing, movements and locations with surveillance footage and photographs captured during the violence.
"Every digital file is being authenticated to establish its originality and timeline before it can be used as evidence. Metadata, timestamps and geolocation details embedded in videos and photographs are also being examined wherever available," the source said.
The member of the force said investigators are also identifying people who went live on social media during the protests, believing such broadcasts could provide an uninterrupted sequence of events and reveal the presence of individuals who later participated in violence.
The police are exploring whether data preservation requests need to be issued to major social media platforms to ensure that livestreams, deleted videos, and user account information relevant to the investigation are not lost before legal requests are processed.
- 24 July 2026 8:12 PM IST
'Withdraw posts or face action': Kapil Sibal slams DU, JNU VCs for 'threatening' students
With the Delhi University and the Jawaharlal Nehru University warning students to "stay away" from Jantar Mantar protests, former education minister Kapil Sibal on Friday slammed the vice chancellors of the two universities and warned that if these "threatening" social media posts were not withdrawn, it may invite legal action.
Sibal, who is also an Independent Rajya Sabha MP and a senior advocate, expressed support for those students who want to visit the protest site at Jantar Mantar and assured them that if they act with non-violence, he would protect them against misuse of power by any vice chancellor or any other such authority.
Sibal said he was surprised and pained to see the posts by the two universities.
"I am surprised at what the VCs of the high-level institutions in our country are doing…I have seen a tweet regarding JNU ...Tell us which Supreme Court direction it is where they say that you cannot go to Jantar Mantar; It means that you, Vice Chancellor, will tell your staff, community, lecturers, students that you should responsibly do your work, do not go to Jantar Mantar, do not tweet, do not go on social media, do not put your opinion before the public, do not take sides," Sibal said.
- 24 July 2026 7:41 PM IST
'I was misquoted', says CJI on 'don't have time to watch videos' remark
Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant on Friday said he had been misquoted in media reports amid the controversy surrounding the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest videos, asserting that the Supreme Court remains accessible to every citizen and never refuses to hear any matter.
Speaking on the sidelines of the UNCITRAL conference, the CJI clarified his earlier remarks, which had sparked political debate and drawn criticism from sections of the student movement. "I have been misquoted in the media," the CJI said.
Emphasising the accessibility of the apex court, he added, "The Supreme Court is open to everyone. We are available 24/7. The Supreme Court never refuses to hear any issue."
- 24 July 2026 7:35 PM IST
Centre airlifts 10 more CRPF companies for Delhi
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.
Thousands of students and activists have been protesting in the national capital for over a month for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET fiasco.
The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has also restricted leave for its Delhi Metro security unit due to the protests.
Officials told PTI that a security review meeting held here 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.
- 24 July 2026 7:21 PM IST
Delhi Police issue traffic advisory amid CJP protests
Delhi Traffic Police on Friday issued a traffic advisory asking the public to avoid travelling to areas under prohibitory orders unless absolutely necessary and advised app-based mobility, food delivery and e-commerce platforms to regulate their operations in the notified zones.
The advisory comes in view of ongoing Cockroach Janta Party protests in Delhi. Authorities have imposed prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, in key parts of the capital to maintain public order.
Police said ride-hailing platforms, food delivery services, quick-commerce operators, logistics providers and other e-commerce entities should take note of the restrictions while operating their digital platforms in the affected areas.
The advisory said the companies may adopt measures such as temporary geo-fencing of the restricted locations or suspension of ride and delivery services to and from the notified areas, wherever operationally feasible.
The police said the measures are intended to safeguard drivers, riders, delivery partners and the general public while minimising movement into the restricted zones.
- 24 July 2026 6:55 PM IST
Mamata Banerjee likely to join CJP protest at Jantar Mantar on July 27
Trinamool Congress president and former West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee is likely to join the protest against NEET paper leak and related issues being spearheaded by the Cokroach Janta Party (CJP) at the Jantar Mantar on Monday, sources said.
Banerjee will visit the protest site to express her solidarity with the students, they said.
Earlier this week, 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, Banerjee had said she was prepared to join the CJP protest in the national capital if required. “If needed, I will visit Delhi and join the CJP protest,” she said.
Referring to the July 20 clashes in Delhi, she alleged that the BJP-led government crossed the limits of authoritarianism.
Trinamool was among the first opposition parties to back the CJP after it was formed, with party MPs Kirti Azad and Mahua Moitra extending their support online.
- 24 July 2026 6:48 PM IST
Rajasthan Congress to hold statewide protests over paper leaks on July 25
The Rajasthan Congress will organise protest marches and satyagraha programmes at all district headquarters on July 25 to protest against paper leaks and demand the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
The statewide agitation is being held in line with a decision taken by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, PCC general secretary Swarnim Chaturvedi said. He alleged that students, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and other Congress MPs were subjected to repressive action by the government during protests in New Delhi.
"The satyagraha is being organised to express solidarity with the agitating students and youth," Chaturvedi said. He said each District Congress Committee will organise a march and satyagraha on the evening of July 25 as part of the statewide protest.
- 24 July 2026 6:47 PM IST
Shiv Sena (UBT) leads massive protest in Mumbai to press for Pradhan's resignation
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 the 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 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 the 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.
