Live: CJP calls for nationwide protest on Friday; Delhi Police says no crackdown plan tonight

India's Test and ODI captain Shubman Gill on Thursday appealed for compassion, mutual respect and keeping students' interests at the forefront amid the ongoing student protests against repeated exam paper leaks.

In a message posted on his Instagram story, Gill said the younger generation deserves every opportunity to learn, dream and shape the country's future. "As a young Indian, I believe our generation deserves every opportunity to learn, dream and shape the future we all aspire to," Gill wrote.

The 26-year-old said he respected young people who chose to express their views peacefully across the country. "I have immense respect for every young person who believes in making their voice heard peacefully," he said.

Without referring to any specific protest or political issue, Gill stressed the importance of education in nation-building and called for empathy while dealing with students' concerns. "Education has the power to shape our nation's future. I hope we move forward with compassion, mutual respect and keeping the best interests of every student at heart.

"For India's future," Gill wrote to conclude.

Entry gates at Rajiv Chowk, Mandi House and Central Secretariat metro stations reopened on Thursday evening after remaining closed for over 14 hours amid the ongoing CJP protest, while 13 other stations continued to remain shut.

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) said in a post on X, “Entry gates at Mandi House, Rajiv Chowk and Central Secretariat metro stations are now open.” Earlier in the day, the DMRC had closed 16 metro stations, including Rajiv Chowk, Central Secretariat, Mandi House, ITO and Khan Market, till further instructions due to security reasons.

The remaining closed stations are Lok Kalyan Marg, Patel Chowk, Ramakrishna Ashram Marg, Barakhamba Road, Supreme Court, Seva Teerth, Janpath, ITO, Delhi Gate, Indraprastha, Khan Market, Jor Bagh and Shivaji Stadium.

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on Thursday gave a nationwide call for peaceful protests on July 24 and urged people to hold demonstrations in every district as it rejected the government's offer for talks, insisting any dialogue should be held only at a neutral venue.

The CJP said gatherings would be held across the country under the slogan “Every district. One day. One demand”, where participants would read out the protesters' demands and express solidarity with students, parents and others who were injured in the police action in Delhi on July 20.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’s 19-year-old daughter Divija Fadnavis on Thursday said citizens have a democratic right to hold peaceful protests, but maintained that violence, whether by demonstrators or the police, should not be permitted.

In an Instagram post, Divija said she was sharing her views after being repeatedly asked to comment on the ongoing student's agitation led by the Cockroach Janta Party in New Delhi. “Peaceful protests are the right of citizens in a democracy. Violence by protesters towards police and police violence towards protesters should not be permitted,” she said.

Urging citizens to support educational reforms without “blindly” backing political parties or their ideologies, Divija advised people to scrutinise the “true intentions” of those leading any movement before extending their support.

She also that the Opposition in a democracy should keep the country's interests in mind and assist the government in taking better decisions, rather than becoming its "enemy" and attempting to defame the ruling party.

Appealing to social media users to think independently, she said people should not support any social media phenomenon merely because it is trending or allow themselves to be "brainwashed" into following any ideology.

"As long as the interests of students come first, it is all good," she said.

Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra says at Gandhi Smriti, “These are the youth of our country, and the way they are being beaten, lathi-charged, and targeted with water cannons is there for everyone to see. We have come here (Gandhi Smriti) to send a message to the government and to the country about what our nation truly stands for. What did Mahatma Gandhi fight for, and how did he fight? What Mahatma Gandhi, our farmers, and the poor did was a unique revolution, a unique movement, because not a hand was raised against anyone. Today, in that very same country, our own children are being beaten simply because they are demanding their rights. We can all see how wrong this is. The democracy for which Mahatma Gandhi and countless others laid down their lives, and for which so many freedom fighters struggled, is now under threat. Today, in this very country, we are beating our own children. We are moving towards destroying the democracy they fought and sacrificed for. The soldiers who wear the uniform and stand at our borders do so to protect this country. Is it so that their children can be beaten for demanding justice over examination paper leaks and asking for their rights?...”

The Delhi Police has said there is no plan to crack down on the ongoing protest at Jantar Mantar, dismissing claims made by former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal that security personnel could take such steps against the protesters.

“There is no plan of Delhi Police to crack down on the ongoing protest tonight as is being conveyed. You (Kejriwal) are advised to refrain from spreading or circulating any misleading/unverified information,” police said in a post on X in response to the AAP leader's claim.

Earlier in the day, Kejriwal in a post on X said, "Order to close all shops in CP by 6:30 PM this evening and intense security. Piles of ambulances. Will the central government once again attack its students at Jantar Mantar today?"

The New Delhi Traders Association (NDTA), citing the prevailing situation in and around the area, advised all offices, shops and restaurants at Connaught Place to close their establishments by 6:30 pm on Thursday.

Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra slams media, says, “You always ask the questions that this government wants you to ask. Why don’t you put these questions to the government instead? Ministers are coming out and speaking, but the Prime Minister has not even come to Parliament. Such a massive movement is underway, with young people from across the country protesting, yet the Prime Minister has not addressed the House. And you are asking me why Parliament is not functioning? Ask me what is being done for the students. Ask what action is being taken on the students' demands… Have you asked Dharmendra Pradhan when he plans to resign? Have you asked Union Home Minister Amit Shah why the police resorted to lathicharge? Have you asked him why so many young students are in hospitals? Have you asked why students protesting outside were unable to even speak to their parents because internet services were suspended? Have you asked why the National Security Act (NSA) was invoked? Are these students terrorists?”