LIVE: Fresh police crackdown on Jantar Mantar protesters; tear gas fired, internet cut off

TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee suspended from LS

Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee was suspended from the Lok Sabha on Wednesday for the remainder of the Monsoon Session. The action against him was taken on a complaint filed by rebel TMC rebel MPs Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, Mitali Bagh and Shatabdi Roy regarding alleged misbehaviour and use of inappropriate language against women MPs.

To abolish NEET, education must be shifted to state list: Vijay

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Joseph Vijay has said that for NEET to be abolished, education must be shifted to the state list of the Constitution, and that alone can be a permanent solution.

If discussion can be held on Vante Mataram, then it can be held on NEET too: Priyanka

Speaking about the Opposition’s demand to discuss the NEET paper leak in Parliament, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi said if an eight-hour discussion can take place on Vande Mataram, then a detailed discussion can be held on this issue as well. “The government always plays political games,' she said.

Ready for detailed discussion on NEET leak, street protests won't help: Govt to Opposition

Amid the Opposition offensive over the NEET paper leak issue, the government on Wednesday said it was willing to hold a detailed discussion in the Lok Sabha on the matter while making it clear that street protests won't yield any results.

As soon as the Lok Sabha reassembled at noon after an earlier adjournment, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla asked Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju to make a statement but Congress leader K C Venugopal intervened to assert that the Opposition is also seeking the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

"Our demand is simple. When the entire nation is feeling the pain of our students - all other business of the House should be set aside and this burning issue should be top priority for Parliament," Venugopal said.

Rijju said the government is willing to hold a discussion on NEET paper leak issue but the Speaker will have to meet floor leaders of all parties to decide on the rule under which the discussion will be held, its date and duration.

Later, talking to reporters, Rijiju said the government is ready for a "detailed" discussion" as the people should know the steps taken by the government.

He accused the opposition of hitting the streets and not holding debate in Parliament and said sensitive issues pertaining to the youth need discussion in Parliament.

Street protests will not yield results, he underlined.

Rahul to address media at 4 PM

Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, will address a press conference in New Delhi at 4 PM.

Bihar: Police fire tear gas shells, lathicharge protesting students demanding resignation of Pradhan

The Bihar Police on Wednesday fired tear gas shells, used water cannon and baton-charged to thwart a ‘Lok Bhavan march’ of student leaders here, who were demanding Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation over the NEET paper leak.

The protesters had gathered under the banner of the All India Students' Association (AISA), an affiliate of the CPI(ML) Liberation, and they faced the police action near Gandhi Maidan, about three km away from the Governor's residence.

CPI(ML) Liberation MLA Sandeep Sourav, who is a former AISA national general secretary, was leading the procession.

"We are on the streets to bring the Modi government back to its senses. Our demand is that in the wake of the brutal suppression of the Jantar Mantar protests, not only Pradhan, but also Union Home Minister Amit Shah tender his resignation as the Delhi Police had acted upon his instructions," he told PTI.

Why is Pradhan not being asked to resign?: Randeep Singh Surjewala

Stating that the Parliament is for the future of the country, Congress MP Randeep Singh Surjewala questioned why the government has not asked Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to resign.

“Who are Kartavya Path, Seva Teerth and Lok Kalyan Marg for? Who are the government and MPs for? This Parliament is for the future of this country, that is, for the children, but why is Dharmendra Pradhan not being asked to resign...The truth is that for 12 years, this government has destroyed the education system. This is the misfortune of the country. Take the resignation of the Education Minister and apologise to those children who have been killed. This is a fight for the future of India," he said.

Students in Patna stage massive protest against NEET paper leak

Even as the CJP prepares to hold talks with the government in connection with its demands related to the NEET exam paper leak, a protest similar to that seen in Delhi is being staged by students in Patna.

#WATCH | Bihar: Massive protest by students in Patna, over NEET-UG 2026 paper leak issue. pic.twitter.com/dUANl6Uy56

— ANI (@ANI) July 22, 2026

‘Always open to take talks forward’: Nadda to meet protesters

Union minister JP Nadda, who is slated to meet a delegation of CJP for talks today, has said that the government is “always open” to taking the talks forward.

“Talks between CJP and the government are happening, and we are always open to take talks forward,” Indian Express quoted him as saying.

CJP says it’s ready for talks, but on neutral grounds

The CJP claims that the government has invited it for talks and that it is ready for the same provided it is held on “neutral” grounds.

“They have called us. We will not go to their office or their residence. The talks will either happen at Jantar Mantar or at a neutral location. We are open for talks right from Day One,” Hindustan Times quoted CJP spokesperson Saurav Das as saying.

Stating that there could be a security issue of the meeting was held at Jantar Mantra, Das suggested it to be organised at the Constitution Club of India.

Union Minister JP Nadda, who met two CJP representatives on July 20, is said to attend the second round of talks from the government’s side.