Live: CJP calls for nationwide protest on Friday; Delhi Police says no crackdown plan tonight
CJP calls Modi’s announcement 'merely an attempt to mislead people’, says students want accountability, responsibility and nothing short of Pradhan’s resignation
The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) continued with its protest at Jantar Mantar, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET exam paper leak issue, for the 34th consecutive day on Thursday (July 23).
Breaking his silence on the issue, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the government has decided to set up fast-track courts to ensure action against those involved in exam paper leaks.
However, Modi’s bid to placate the protesting students did little, with the CJP calling it a distraction that fails to address the root cause of the NEET paper leak issue. The outfit said the government must take accountability, starting with the resignation of Pradhan.
Also read: Has CJP protest revealed a chink in BJP’s armour? | Talking Sense With Srini
In the evening, CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke said, “Modi ji, I once again request you to accept Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation. Otherwise, the issue will not remain limited to Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation; it will come for your resignation also...An incompetent and failed minister cannot be more important than the crores of students in this country...”
During the day, CJP also turned down Union minister JP Nadda’s invitation for talks, insisting that it will only hold talks at a neutral venue.
Modi's big message
Early in the day, Modi said in a post on X that "Nothing is more important than the welfare and future of our youth!" In reply, the CJP posted a meme showing a photo of Dharmendra Pradhan with the caption "My name is Nothing."
Modi in his post said, "We have decided to set up fast-track courts to ensure swift and stringent punishment for those involved in paper leaks. Have directed the concerned authorities and officials to take all necessary steps in this regard. This continues our series of steps for safeguarding the interests of students. Those who try to harm the future of our youth will not be spared."
Also read: Fresh police crackdown on Jantar Mantar protesters; tear gas fired, internet cut off
INDIA bloc marches to Gandhi Smriti
Meanwhile, the Congress on Wednesday hit back at Union minister J P Nadda for his attack on Rahul Gandhi, saying the former BJP chief's press conference was an unending series of "what-aboutery" and a sure sign of the ruling regime's increasing desperation.
In the evening, Opposition INDIA bloc leaders and MPs marched to Gandhi Smriti to pay homage to the students who took their own lives out of despair because of the question paper leak.
Follow live updates of the CJP protest and related developments throughout the day, here.
Live Updates
- 23 July 2026 7:54 PM IST
Govt blocks internet around Jantar Mantar again
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs has ordered the temporary suspension of mobile internet services within a 1.5-km radius of Jantar Mantar, citing public safety and the need to maintain public order. According to the order, mobile internet services across all technologies will remain suspended from 4 pm to midnight on July 23. - 23 July 2026 7:44 PM IST
Students on streets; we felt Opposition should also be with them: Rahul
INDIA bloc MPs on their way to Gandhi Smriti have allegedly been stopped by the Delhi Police. “The students of our country are on the streets, so we felt that the Opposition should also be on the streets. At first, all of us Opposition MPs wanted to go to India Gate, but we were not allowed to go. Then, we were heading to Gandhi Smriti, but our bus has been stopped. Our message to the students is that we are with you. The entire Opposition is with you, and we are completely against the atrocities being committed against them.”
- 23 July 2026 7:18 PM IST
Issue will not remain limited to Pradhan’s resignation: Dipke's warning to Modi
Founding president of Cockroach Janta Party, Abhijeet Dipke, says, “Modi ji, I once again request you to accept Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation. Otherwise, the issue will not remain limited to Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation; it will come for your resignation also...An incompetent and failed minister cannot be more important than the crores of students in this country. If a failed and incompetent minister is being considered more important than these crores of students, then remember: No one in India will vote for you in the elections...” - 23 July 2026 7:14 PM IST
India’s students not alone; entire Opposition with them: Rahul Gandhi
“Right now, MPs and leaders of the INDIA alliance are peacefully heading to Gandhi Smriti on Tees January Marg. We are going there to remember the students we lost—the children driven to take their own lives after the NEET paper leak. And we go to stand with the students who lie injured today—beaten for peacefully demanding justice and accountability. India’s students are not alone. The entire Opposition stands with them and their demands,” Rahul Gandhi tweeted at 6.54 pm today. - 23 July 2026 6:45 PM IST
CJP rejects govt call to meet at Nadda's home or office
Saurav Das, chief spokesperson of Cockroach Janta Party, says, “Union Minister Jitendra Singh said that we can hold talks anywhere; we have already made our suggestion. Come to Jantar Mantar or to a neutral venue like the Constitution Club of India. We will meet there. We have not received any message from their side yet...They should contact us directly and discuss where to meet, when to meet, and how long the discussion will continue.”
On PM Modi’s tweet on setting up fast-track courts to ensure stringent punishment for those involved in paper leaks, he says, “Such announcements are of no use. These are merely attempts to mislead people. We want accountability and responsibility. We will not discuss this matter with anyone unless Dharmendra Pradhan resigns.”
- 23 July 2026 6:01 PM IST
Cong, BJP supporters hurl stones, eggs at each other in Ranchi
Several people were injured on Thursday after Congress and BJP workers allegedly hurled stones and eggs at each other during a protest in Jharkhand’s Ranchi.
Police personnel and journalists were also among the injured in the incident.
Trouble started when a large number of Congress workers marched towards the BJP headquarters in Ranchi to protest against the NEET paper leak issue.
The Congress supporters raised slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and demanded the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
Soon, BJP workers also took to the streets to counter the Congress supporters.
"We are identifying the persons from both sides who hurled eggs, stones and tomatoes. Some of them have been detained. CCTV camera footage will be examined to identify more people," Ranchi SP (Rural) Gaurav Goswami told reporters.
- 23 July 2026 6:00 PM IST
Protesters in Rajasthan’s Banswara lathi-charged after argument with cops
Police resorted to lathi-charge to disperse protesters during a demonstration over the alleged NEET paper leak in Rajasthan's Banswara district on Thursday.
The lathi-charge took place after a confrontation broke out between the police and protesters who were demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the alleged examination paper leak issue.
"The demonstrators were asked to hold a peaceful protest and remain at the designated protest site. However, some protesters started arguments with police personnel which led to a heated exchange," the police said.
The protest was organised by the Congress and Bharat Adivasi Party workers.
- 23 July 2026 5:59 PM IST
More than 100 detained in Nagpur for protests
More than 100 youths were detained in Nagpur on Thursday for holding an "unauthorised" protest to condemn police action during the Cockroach Janta Party-led march in New Delhi on July 20 against exam paper leaks and other education sector irregularities.
The protest saw scores of Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi activists converging at Samvidhan Square and shouting slogans condemning the lathi-charge in the national capital.
"The demonstration was not allowed as a similar protest on Wednesday had exceeded the time limit. The protest had gone on till late night. More than 100 youths were detained today since they did not have permission for the protest," the official said.
- 23 July 2026 5:58 PM IST
Passports of those involved in violence may be cancelled
People found directly involved in violence during the ongoing CJP protest may face cancellation of their passports, PTI reported citing police sources on Thursday.
The Delhi Police has reportedly begun identifying, through CCTV footage, video recordings and other technical evidence, the individuals who were directly involved in rioting and other acts of violence during the protest.
Action for cancellation of passports may be initiated in accordance with the applicable legal provisions against those found to have actively participated in the violence.
- 23 July 2026 5:39 PM IST
Akhilesh slams Centre’s ‘arrogance’, urges it to admit mistake
Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday accused the Centre of functioning with arrogance instead of democratic values and said pressure on the student protesters will not work, urging the government to admit its “mistake” and start a dialogue.
He also took swipe at the BJP government, claiming its understanding of “accountability” refers to the “ability to fill accounts” in the context of the ongoing probe into the alleged ram temple donation theft.
Talking to reporters at the Lucknow airport after returning from New Delhi, Yadav accused the BJP governments at the Centre and in Uttar Pradesh of failing to ensure fair examinations.
He further said repeated paper leaks had jeopardised the future of lakhs of students and claimed the government itself had acknowledged irregularities by conducting the NEET re-examination.
“The matter is absolutely clear. The government should accept the demands of students and youth. The minister himself admitted that there were irregularities in the (NEET) examination and that the paper was leaked. That is why the examination had to be conducted again,” Yadav said.
“I don't know how many children's futures have been jeopardised. Paper leaks are not happening for the first time. There seems to be a competition between the Government of India and the Uttar Pradesh government over who can have more paper leaks,” Yadav said.
Claiming that paper leaks were being orchestrated rather than occurring accidentally, the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister said, "These papers are not merely getting leaked, they are being made to leak so that students do not get jobs. Along with employment, the issue of reservation is also linked.
Yadav said the Samajwadi Party would continue to raise the issue in the legislature until the Union education minister resigned.
"This is not a government, it is arrogance. They are running the government with arrogance. In a democracy, the government should listen to the people, understand what they want and at least hold talks with them. A solution can emerge through dialogue,” he said.
"It is the government's responsibility. If the government resorts to injustice and tries to exert pressure, that pressure will not work. The government should accept its mistake and hold talks. It was because of its own mistake that the examination had to be conducted again," Yadav added.
