LIVE: Fresh police crackdown on Jantar Mantar protesters; tear gas fired, internet cut off
Sonam Wangchuk offers to end fast if govt spares students; Rahul says agitation stems from "rigged" education system, rising education costs, unemployment
Wearing black clothes, leaders of several Opposition parties on Wednesday (July 22) staged a protest outside Parliament to express solidarity with students protesting against the NEET paper leak issue.
Also read: Dharmendra Pradhan a 'big liability', should have quit: Renuka Chowdhury
The Opposition MPs raised slogans against the government and demanded the resignation of Home Minister Amit Shah and Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan for the police action against protesting students.
Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were among those who joined the protest.
Also read: Pradhan slams Congress for 'shamelessly exploiting students as political tools'
MPs of the Congress, SP, Left parties, RJD, TMC, JMM and other parties were present during the protest, during which they raised slogans against the government.
16 Delhi Metro stations closed
Meanwhile, the closure of 16 metro stations by the DMRC due to "security reasons" amid the ongoing CJP protest on Wednesday left hundreds of office-goers, students and other commuters stranded, forcing many to change routes midway, exit at unfamiliar stations and scramble for alternative transport during the morning rush.
The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) on Wednesday morning closed 16 Delhi Metro stations, including Rajiv Chowk, Central Secretariat, Mandi House, ITO and Khan Market, citing "security reasons".
The closures come amid the ongoing Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest at Jantar Mantar.
For many, it was the second such disruption within a week, adding to frustration over repeated delays to their daily commute. A similar shutdown happened on Monday.
Passengers said trains continued to run on several stretches but skipped closed stations, leaving them with little option but to travel further and retrace their journey by road.
Follow live updates of CJP’s protest and the Parliament Monsoon Session, here.
Live Updates
- 22 July 2026 7:00 PM IST
Opposition MPs urge Sonam Wangchuk to end indefinite fast
A delegation of Opposition Members of Parliament has written to activist and education reform advocate Sonam Wangchuk, urging him to end his indefinite fast while assuring him that they would take up his demands in Parliament.
In the letter dated July 22, the MPs praised Wangchuk's role in advocating education reforms, saying his campaign for "a fair, transparent, and accountable examination system" had "touched the hearts of millions across the nation."
Appealing to him to withdraw his fast, the MPs wrote that "the nation, especially its youth, needs your wisdom and guidance far more than your sacrifice."
The letter also assured Wangchuk that lawmakers would pursue "the national mission and debate on educational reforms and the future of India's youth" in Parliament. It further pledged to demand that the government ensure "no coercive action, whether by way of registration of any FIR or through any other administrative measure," is taken against protesters associated with the movement.
- 22 July 2026 6:54 PM IST
Bajrang Punia joins Jantar Mantar protest: CJP
The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on Wednesday claimed that wrestler Bajrang Punia joined the ongoing protest at Jantar Mantar in support of demonstrators demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
In a post on X, CJP said, "The wrestlers are back at Jantar Mantar! Bajrang Punia joined the protest to demand the immediate resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and an end to police brutality. We won't back down. All people's movements stand united."
- 22 July 2026 6:49 PM IST
Kanimozhi backs student protest, reiterates DMK's opposition to NEET
DMK MP Kanimozhi on Wednesday extended support to the student protest in Delhi, reiterating her party's long-standing opposition to the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) and backing the demonstrators.
Addressing the gathering, she said, "...Many MPs from the DMK, from the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha today have come with me to extend their support...Because the DMK has been fighting this fight for many years. From the day NEET was introduced, our leader Dr Kalaignar, and after him, our leader M.K. Stalin have been fighting against NEET...Only the privileged students and students from cities are able to sit for these examinations and pass them...We passed a law against NEET when the DMK was in government in Tamil Nadu. But you know, as many of the laws which were passed and which the BJP government does not like, the Governor sat on it, and now the President refuses to sign it..."
She also said, "...The youth of this country stands against injustice. They've been calling us anti-nationals, Naxalites...Anybody who raises their voice against this government has been labelled as anti-nationals, as Urban Naxals. Today, young Urban Naxals and Naxalites, as they want to call us, have come together to teach them a lesson and show them what the youth of this country can do and what they can stand up against..."
The DMK has consistently opposed NEET, arguing it disadvantages rural and government-school students. The Supreme Court has upheld NEET as the common entrance test for medical admissions across India.
- 22 July 2026 6:37 PM IST
Watch: Opposition MPs leave to meet Sonam Wangchuk at hospital
Opposition MPs leave for Medanta Hospital in Delhi to meet activist Sonam Wangchuk and appeal to him to end his indefinite fast. Wangchuk has been on an indefinite hunger strike over his demands for Ladakh.
- 22 July 2026 6:25 PM IST
DMRC reopens entry gates at Mandi House, Central Secretariat metro stations
The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) on Wednesday announced that entry gates at Mandi House and Central Secretariat metro stations have been reopened after a temporary restriction.
In a service update posted on X, the DMRC said, "Service Update. Entry gates for Mandi House and Central Secretariat metro stations are now open."
The corporation did not specify the reason for the earlier closure or how long the restrictions remained in place. Mandi House and Central Secretariat are among the Delhi Metro network's key interchange stations, serving thousands of commuters daily and connecting multiple corridors across the national capital.
- 22 July 2026 6:23 PM IST
CJP Instagram account briefly disabled, restored; Abhijeet Dipke blames PM Modi
The Cockroach Janta Party's (CJP) official Instagram account was briefly unavailable on Wednesday before being restored, prompting founder Abhijeet Dipke to accuse Prime Minister Narendra Modi of being behind the disruption.
In a post on X, Dipke wrote, "Cockroach Janta Party’s Instagram account has been taken down by Narendra Modi."
A short while later, he posted an update saying, "It has been restored now."
The incident comes amid continued scrutiny of CJP's online presence. In recent months, the group has alleged restrictions on its social media accounts, while Meta has acknowledged that at least one temporary suspension linked to CJP was the result of an automated moderation error before restoring the account.
- 22 July 2026 6:01 PM IST
Sonam Wangchuk offers to end fast on one condition
Climate activist and educator Sonam Wangchuk has said he is willing to end his indefinite hunger strike if the government assures that no legal or punitive action will be taken against students who participated in the protests over the alleged NEET paper leak.
In a letter addressed to Union Ministers J P Nadda and Jitendra Singh, Wangchuk sought an "unequivocal assurance" that the young protesters would not face any retaliatory legal proceedings for taking part in the movement.
He said the students had only been demanding transparency, accountability and a fair education system, adding that without such a guarantee from the government, he would have no option but to continue his fast indefinitely.
In the letter, Wangchuk also thanked Union Ministers J P Nadda and Jitendra Singh for visiting him at Medanta Hospital on Tuesday night. - 22 July 2026 5:32 PM IST
SFI announces nationwide strike on July 24
The Students’ Federation of India (SFI) alleged that the Delhi Police used excessive force against students during the Delhi protest on July 20, and announced a series of protest programmes over the next few days -- including a nationwide student strike and class boycott on July 24.
In a press note, the student organisation alleged that police resorted to lathi charge, tear gas, rubber bullets and pellet guns to disperse protesters during the march towards Parliament, resulting in injuries to several demonstrators, including SFI activists.
The organisation also alleged that women protesters were molested and claimed that police personnel used "unprovoked" force against demonstrators.
SFI said it would approach the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) over the alleged police excesses and announced plans to constitute an independent "People's Commission" comprising eminent personalities and former judges to inquire into the events of July 20.
The student body announced a nationwide campaign beginning on Wednesday with campus protests, rallies and street-corner meetings across colleges and universities.
On July 23, it plans to organise marches to Raj Bhavans and Lok Bhavans, or protests outside central government offices in states, with the support of several organisations, including the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), the All India Democratic Women's Association (AIDWA), the All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS), the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) and the All India Agricultural Workers Union (AIAWU). The SFI also said it would seek the intervention of the president on the issue.
The organisation has called for an all-India student strike and class boycott on July 24.
It also announced an overnight nationwide protest programme titled 'Raat Jaago, Desh Jaago' from 10 pm on the same day, saying torchlight rallies, cultural programmes and all-night gatherings would be organised at multiple locations across the country.
For July 25 and 26, the SFI said it would launch a campaign titled 'Return Gift', under which its members would distribute Melody chocolates to police personnel. It also said it would display banners and photographs highlighting the police action during the protests and collect public signatures as part of a nationwide awareness campaign.
- 22 July 2026 5:26 PM IST
Protesting students not terrorists: Rahul
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accused the Modi government of destroying India's education system and expressed full support for the protesting students, saying their demands, including Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation, are fully legitimate and non-negotiable.
The protesting students are not terrorists and are simply asking for an education system that works and is fair, said Rahul while also backing demands for an apology to students from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and holding everyone responsible for the assault on students accountable.
During the press conference at the AICC headquarters, Rahul alleged that the education system is not only rigged, but it is also unaffordable.
A video of alleged "police brutality" against students during Monday's 'Sansad Chalo' protest was shown at the start of the press conference.
Referring to the police action, he said, "The question is why is this happening to our students. What have they done to have security forces aiming weapons at them, to be beaten up, to be thrashed.
"They are protesting peacefully, asking for what this country owes them. They are simply asking as students in this country- 'we deserve an education system that is fair'." Children have committed suicides, they go through unlimited stress and there is a legitimate, very deep problem in this country, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha said.
"The thing that is clear to everybody is that our education system, which was known to be one of the best education systems in the world, is a rigged system," he said.
