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 4:17 PM IST
NEET paper leak case: Delhi court dismisses bail plea of accused doctor
A Delhi court on Friday dismissed the bail plea of a doctor who is an accused in the NEET paper leak case.
Special Judge Ajay Gupta rejected the bail plea of the accused paediatrician Dr Manoj Bhagwanrao Shirure.
A detailed order is awaited.
The court also extended the judicial custody of all 13 accused till August 6.
During the arguments on bail, the CBI had claimed that the Latur-based doctor took Rs 5 lakh from a candidate's family and allowed the candidate to access the leaked chemistry paper at his hospital before the examination.
The federal agency had also told the court that Shirure had referred two other doctors to the alleged kingpin P V Kulkarni, and the children of these doctors also allegedly benefited from the paper "leak".
It had alleged that the accused doctor facilitated co-accused Shivraj Motegaonkar's son, Aditya Motegaonkar, to access the leaked chemistry paper at his hospital in the third week of April, ahead of the May 3 NEET-UG examination.
The CBI had claimed that Rs 5 lakh received from the candidate's family was seized from the house of Shirure's sister and further alleged that he had referred two other doctors to Kulkarni and the children of these doctors obtained the leaked chemistry paper after paying Rs 3 lakh each.
- 24 July 2026 4:15 PM IST
Left student outfits hold rally in Kolkata, seek Pradhan's resignation
Left students' organisations on Friday held a rally in Kolkata, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the alleged NEET paper leak.
The march was held from Sealdah to Esplanade in central Kolkata in solidarity with the nationwide students' movement against the alleged irregularities in the medical entrance test NEET.
With placards in their hands, the protesters raised slogans demanding Pradhan's resignation, the dissolution of the National Testing Agency (NTA) that conducts NEET, and justice for students allegedly subjected to police excesses during the demonstrations in the national capital.
The demonstrators lent their support to the demands raised by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), which has been spearheading protests over the alleged NEET paper leak.
- 24 July 2026 4:14 PM IST
Modi govt playing up PM's midnight panic promise: Congress
The Congress on Friday termed an "eyewash" Prime Minister Narendra Modi's announcement to set up fast-track courts to punish those involved in paper leaks and said it was an attempt to show responsiveness where there is none.
Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said his party's demands are clear -- "sack Mantri Pradhan; punish those who beat the students; apologise to the students."
Ramesh said the Modi government is trying its hardest to play up the PM's "midnight panic promise" of fast-track courts by law.
"Actually just this morning the Delhi High Court has constituted a new Fast-Track Court with immediate effect to hear cases under the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024. Fast-track courts can easily and clearly be set up under existing laws as well. The PM’s promise is, as usual, hollow and only a headline-grabbing exercise," Ramesh alleged.
The Pradhan Mantri is only attempting to fool the youth, he alleged.
- 24 July 2026 4:11 PM IST
Lawyers' group write to CJI on opposition protest near PM house, seeks fact-finding probe
A group of high court lawyers has written to Chief Justice of India Surya Kant seeking suo motu cognisance of the sit-in protest led by Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and other leaders near Prime Minister Narendra Modi's residence, alleging it was an "unlawful assembly" in a high-security zone.
The representation, submitted on behalf of advocates by Sanket Gupta, seeks an "appropriate fact-finding inquiry" into the demonstration at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg.
The lawyers from different high courts requested that the Supreme Court lay down "binding, prospective guidelines" governing protests and public assemblies in the immediate vicinity of high-security installations.
"...a repeated disregard of security protocols around sensitive installations, high-security zones, if left unaddressed, risks normalising a culture of unlawful assembly in security restricted government areas surrounding the official residence of Prime Ministers and other constitutional authorities rather than resolution through constitutional and parliamentary channels," the letter said.
"Take suo-motu cognisance and direct an appropriate fact-finding inquiry, into the unlawful assembly by Shri Rahul Gandhi and other leaders on 21st July 2026 at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg, the official residence of the Prime Minster of India," it said.
- 24 July 2026 3:14 PM IST
Cabinet approves draft bill for stricter punishments in paper leak cases
The Union Cabinet on Friday approved a draft bill to ensure stricter punishments for paper leaks, hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi made an announcement in 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 than the existing laws, the sources said.
In a video message around midnight on Thursday, Modi announced that a bill containing provisions for strong action against paper leaks will be introduced in Parliament next week.
The announcement came in the wake of the ongoing protests by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, accountability for exam irregularities, reforms in the education system, and Rs 1 crore compensation to families of those students who committed suicide after the NEET-UG paper leak in May.
- 24 July 2026 3:09 PM IST
CJP submits demands, government to respond tomorrow: Nadda
Union Minister JP Nadda said after talks with the CJP, "The discussions lasted for about two hours. We heard their views in a cordial atmosphere. They presented three demands and five suggestions. We have told them that we will meet them again tomorrow afternoon and brief them on the discussions held within the government."
- 24 July 2026 2:56 PM IST
CJP says Pradhan's resignation remains non-negotiable
Ashutosh Ranka of the CJP said they have conveyed to the government that the public sentiment across the country was clear: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan must resign. He said the government had sought time until tomorrow afternoon to respond. If Pradhan does not resign, the CJP will issue a fresh nationwide protest call, he added.
Saurav Das of the CJP said they have reiterated their demands to Union ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh, stressing that Pradhan's resignation was non-negotiable. He said the government had indicated it was positively considering the demands for the withdrawal of cases and FIRs, as well as compensation for the families of students who died by suicide. "The government is positively considering two of our three demands," he said. Das also urged the government to direct the Delhi Police to stop its alleged brutality against students.
- 24 July 2026 2:46 PM IST
Nothing short of Pradhan's resignation is acceptable, says Dipke
Ahead of talks with the government, founding president of Cockroach Janta Party, Abhijeet Dipke told news agency ANI, "Nothing short of resignation (of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan) is acceptable to us. The protest will not be called off."
"This protest belongs to the youth of the nation and is not limited to one Sonam Wangchuk or Dipke. This protest belongs to the youth of the nation, not the Opposition parties. If the government wants a solution to the protest, it is only the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan."
"I think the govt had kept Sonam Wangchuk detained. JP Nadda could meet him, but no Opposition MPs could meet him. Even we could not meet him. I am very happy that Sonam sir has called off his hunger strike."
- 24 July 2026 2:36 PM IST
CJP-govt talks underway; Nadda, Jitendra Singh attend
A crucial meeting between the representatives of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and the government was underway at the Vithalbhai Patel House in New Delhi on Friday as part of efforts to find an amicable solution to the outfit's demands related to exam irregularities.
While the government was represented by Union Health Minister JP 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.
Nadda and Das, along with another CJP spokesperson, Ashutosh Ranka, had attended two back-to-back meetings on July 20 at the minister's residence.
The meeting is taking place hours after activist Sonam Wangchuk ended his 26-day hunger strike late on Thursday night following government assurances on his key demands.
The CJP had earlier declined the government's invitation to hold talks at a minister's residence or office, insisting that discussions should take place at a neutral venue.
The outfit has maintained that its protest at Jantar Mantar will continue until Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigns.
- 24 July 2026 2:31 PM IST
Congress to hold Delhi protest, nationwide satyagrahas over NEET
The Congress is set to intensify its agitation over the NEET paper leak issue and the police action on student protesters, with a protest planned in central Delhi on Friday, followed by candle marches and satyagrahas across the country on Saturday evening. The party has directed its district units to organise the nationwide demonstrations, signalling that its campaign will continue both in the national capital and at the grassroots level.
