LIVE: All Congress leaders, CJP protesters released from detention; Wangchuk shifted to Medanta
Rahul, Priyanka, Akhilesh stage surprise sit-in outside PM Modi's residence, demanding his resignation; detained for hours after talks with govt fail
Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav were on Tuesday (July 21) evening removed from outside the Prime Minister's official residence in New Delhi where they were staging a sit-in protest demanding his resignation over the police action against students during the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)'s protest march the day before. The leaders were detained for hours before being released late in the evening.
The protest came in response to the pitched battle that ensued between protesters and police personnel during the CJP-led ‘Sansad Chalo’ rally to Parliament on Monday, which was also the first day of the Monsoon Session, held to demand the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
According to Delhi Police, more than 118 police personnel sustained injuries, while the number of injured protesters was 60. A young woman injured in police action is on ventilator support at the Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital, PTI quoted hospital sources as saying on Tuesday. The woman sustained injuries on Monday.
Rahul, Priyanka stage sit-in
On Tuesday, the Gandhi siblings, accompanied by party chief Mallikarjun Kharge, protested outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Lok Kalyan Marg residence demanding his resignation. They were joined by several party MPs and leaders, who raised slogans against Modi.
The Congress leaders earlier met some of the students injured in Monday's police action at the Ram Manohar Lohia hospital. Despite Monday's police action, protesters camped at Jantar Mantar through the night braving heavy rains. On Tuesday morning, volunteers cleaned the protest site, while CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke apologised to supporters injured in the police action.
'Girls beaten up by male police officers'
Heavy security remained in place around the protest venue as volunteers were seen cleaning the stage, the only structure left standing after police removed the tents and other temporary installations on Monday.
In an X post, Dipke apologised to those injured in the crackdown.
"I apologise to all our supporters, especially the girls who were brutally beaten up by male police officers. We could have done better. I could have done better to protect you from the inhumane actions of the Delhi Police," he wrote.
"To protect one Dharmendra Pradhan, who is responsible for the deaths of more than 20 students, the government was willing to spill the blood of many more young students," Dipke alleged.
"If you were injured and see this, please DM me. I want to speak to you personally and apologise. We will keep fighting for all of you," he said in another post, while separately describing the developments as, "Not a democracy." CJP spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka said activist Sonam Wangchuk's indefinite hunger strike had entered its 24th day.
"Sonam Wangchuk is on the 24th day of his hunger strike. He is still fighting for us. We won't stop. Pradhan has to be sacked," Ranka said in a post on X.
Monday's protest
Monday saw thousands of protesters, carrying placards and the tricolour, fanning out across the city and chanting slogans of "Bharat Mata Ki Jai", "Jai Bhim, "Vande Mataram" and "Dharmendra Pradhan Istifa Do".
As the Delhi Police cracked down on the protesters, the CJP alleged brutality and accused the security personnel of using excessive force against protesters during its "Sansad Chalo" march, alleging that several students were injured and Sonam Wangchuk's wife, Gitanjali J Angmo, was pushed around. CJP also claimed that pellet guns were used on protesters.
Police instead accused the protesters of attacking security personnel with stones and other objects, attempting to breach barricades and vandalising government property.
FIR filed, security tightened
Delhi Police have registered four FIRs so far and are in the process of filing two more in connection with violence, vandalism and other incidents during the "Sansad Chalo", PTI said quoting sources.
Security has also been beefed up across the national capital with heavy deployment of police and paramilitary personnel visible at sensitive locations.
Read our related stories:
A warning shot for 2029? Why Delhi protests hold key for Opposition too
Why CJP’s protest stands apart from previous mass movements
CJP protests in pictures: The day ‘Chalo Sansad’ march turned Delhi into a battlefield
CJP conundrum: Is it just a political 'pest' to get swatted away?
Follow this space for more live updates from the protest and also Parliament's Monsoon Session.
Live Updates
- 21 July 2026 12:37 PM IST
Dipke alleges Govt 'trapped' CJP leaders under the guise of talks
Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) convenor Abhijeet Dipke on Tuesday alleged that the government misled the organisation by inviting its representatives for talks even as police action was underway against protesters.
Speaking to ANI, Dipke said, “JP Nadda invited our panel to have a discussion, and they offered that they would find a solution and have a dialogue. And after calling us for talks, they were conducting a lathi charge here. So, they were trapping us.”
He further alleged that CJP leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were detained during the meeting process.
"They even house-arrested Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka at JP Nadda's house. They took away their phones." Dipke claimed, adding that the two leaders remained unreachable for nearly three hours.
- 21 July 2026 12:32 PM IST
Rahul heads to RML Hospital to meet injured protesters
Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday left for RML Hospital to meet students who were injured during the protests in Delhi.
Before departing, Rahul held the Centre responsible for the handling of the demonstrations and said accountability should extend beyond the Education Ministry.
He told reporters that not only Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan but also Union Home Minister Amit Shah should resign over the government's response to the student protests.
“Modi ji has not even apologised for what happened yesterday. The youth are protesting against the education and testing system. The whole country knows that the education and testing system is hollowed out by termites. Why is the Prime Minister silent? He should apologise to the students and stop this nonsense of thrashing students,” Rahul said.
- 21 July 2026 12:24 PM IST
Both Houses adjourned till 2 pm amid Opposition protests
Proceedings in both Houses of Parliament were disrupted on Tuesday, leading to repeated adjournments amid continued protests by Opposition members.
In the Lok Sabha, Chairperson Sandhya Ray urged members to allow the House to function before adjourning the proceedings till 2 p.m. shortly after the session resumed.
“Full country is watching the House proceedings. I request you to take your seats and let the proceedings continue. Is this behaviour appropriate?” Ray said as quoted by The Hindu.
The Rajya Sabha also witnessed disruptions and was adjourned until 2 p.m. soon after reconvening at noon.
- 21 July 2026 12:13 PM IST
Vir Das Urges artists to back students, break silence
Actor and comedian Vir Das on Tuesday urged fellow performers to support students protesting over alleged examination irregularities, saying remaining silent while later seeking public support amounted to "sheer hypocrisy."
In a post on Instagram, Das wrote, "If you are an Indian live artist. I hope you understand the sheer hypocrisy of not speaking up for the people, and then trying to sell them tickets later."
He said artists cannot ignore issues affecting young people while expecting them to back concerts and performances. "You are appearing as a silent viewer to what the Indian crowd cares about, and then expecting an Indian crowd to be loud and vocal and care about you. You do you. Doesn't work. The concert economy in India is built on young people gathering in support."
Das also questioned the claim of being apolitical, writing, "I'd submit to you that this issue isn't political or partisan anymore. You can support them by platforming what they care about."
His remarks came a day after the CJP's "Chalo Sansad" protest in Delhi.
- 21 July 2026 12:10 PM IST
AIIMS Resident Doctors' Association seeks probe into Jantar Mantar police action
The Resident Doctors' Association (RDA) of AIIMS Delhi on Tuesday urged President Droupadi Murmu to order an independent and time-bound inquiry into the police action during the protest at Jantar Mantar and sought clarity over activist Sonam Wangchuk's continued hospitalisation.
In a representation to the President, the association said, "Reports indicating the use of lathi charge, tear gas, and physical force against a large number of peaceful protesters, including students, doctors and young citizens, are deeply unsettling." It added that publicly available videos and eyewitness accounts had raised questions about how the protest was handled.
The RDA also expressed concern over videos purportedly showing police personnel with covered faces and concealed name badges. "Particularly concerning are videos that appear to show police personnel with their faces and name badges covered, undermining transparency and accountability in law enforcement," the letter said.
On Wangchuk's hospitalisation, the association stated, "Reports suggesting that he was not permitted to leave the hospital despite expressing a desire to seek leave against medical advice, if accurate, raise important questions regarding the autonomy and rights of patients."
Calling itself apolitical, the RDA said, "We believe every individual has the democratic right to peaceful protest, and we hope that all genuine concerns are heard and addressed through constructive dialogue."
- 21 July 2026 12:05 PM IST
Maharashtra BJP minister Bawankule calls CJP's NEET protest a 'nautanki'
Maharashtra minister and senior BJP leader Chandrashekhar Bawankule on Tuesday criticised the Cockroach Janta Party's (CJP) agitation over alleged NEET examination irregularities, describing it as a "nautanki" aimed at discrediting the government rather than seeking reforms.
Speaking to reporters in Nagpur, Bawankule defended Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and maintained that the government had acted swiftly after uncovering the alleged paper leak. He also called for a detailed investigation into the alleged stone-pelting during Monday's protest march towards Parliament.
"This cockroach (CJP) agitation is a nautanki, as they can't find any issues; they are scheming to create resentment in young people. Some young people have joined the movement here out of genuine distress, because NEET was cancelled and they are upset. But that doesn't mean the government didn't take any action. Did any of our ministers leak papers? Did Chandrashekhar Bawankule or Dharmendra Pradhan leak any paper?" he said.
Bawankule accused the organisers of politicising the issue instead of proposing reforms, adding, "This agitation was done purposely to defame the government and create resentment against the government."
- 21 July 2026 12:02 PM IST
CJP to continue protest, rules out another Parliament march
The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on Tuesday said it would continue its agitation but would not organise another march towards Parliament following the clashes with Delhi Police that left several supporters injured, according to Reuters.
Addressing reporters, CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke said the group decided to halt Monday's march to prevent further injuries to protesters.
"We had to call off the protest yesterday because we did not want more youth to be injured," Dipke said, according to Reuters.
He added that the organisation had no plans to resume the march, saying, "We will not march again because the police will hurt the youth again."
- 21 July 2026 11:42 AM IST
CJP seeks release of detained protesters, seeks police clarity
Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka on Tuesday called on the Delhi Police to disclose the number of people still in custody following Monday's protest march in the national capital.
In a post on X, Ranka said, "Delhi police needs to clearly tell how many people are still under detention from yesterday's protest." He also demanded the immediate release of those held, adding, "All the detainees should be released immediately."
The appeal came a day after the CJP's "Sansad Chalo" march over the alleged NEET-UG 2026 paper leak turned violent near Parliament. Delhi Police said around 70 protesters had been detained during the clashes, and legal action was being initiated against those allegedly involved in violence, while the CJP has accused the police of using excessive force against demonstrators.
- 21 July 2026 11:37 AM IST
AAP launches helpline for students held after protest: Kejriwal
AAP has launched a helpline for students booked after the protest; those who need legal or medical assistance can contact it, says Arvind Kejriwal. "I couldn't participate in Monday's march but both my children joined protesters for 4-5 hours," he added.
- 21 July 2026 11:34 AM IST
INDIA bloc meets Speaker, seeks debate on protest crackdown
Rahul Gandhi-led delegation of INDIA bloc floor leaders in Lok Sabha met Speaker Om Birla a while back, demanding a discussion on the lathi charge and tear gas shelling at protestors on Monday (July 21).
