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Rahul Gandhi, in a letter to Home Minister Amit Shah, seeks accountability for the crackdown on student protesters and questions the use of pellet guns
Escalating the row over the crackdown on student protesters, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi has written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, demanding accountability for the "barbaric assault" and asking whether he had approved the use of "lethal force", including pellet guns, against the youth.
In his letter to Shah, Rahul said peaceful protest is crucial to any democracy and it is the government's responsibility to protect protesters and resolve their grievances through dialogue.
Also read | From JP to CJP: How Delhi remains the epicentre of India’s power-shifting protests
"Such brutal violence destroys every norm, and has outraged the country. Youth and students, the future of our country, are demanding answers and accountability. Their voice will be heard," the former Congress chief said.
Questions crackdown on students
"I write to demand accountability for the barbaric assault on students who were peacefully protesting in Delhi on July 20, 2026. Our students were demanding a fair and accountable education system. Instead of being heard, security forces assaulted them with indiscriminate force, including lethal weapons and tear gas," Rahul said in his letter dated July 25.
"Hundreds have suffered serious injuries and women students have been assaulted by policemen, including by deliberately targeting their private parts," he said.
Rahul said most shocking has been the use of lethal pellet guns. "Reports in the media and social media clearly show people who have suffered grave injuries including a journalist. I met 19-year old student Sahil Lochab, who is now in severe pain and is likely to lose an eye because he was shot with pellet guns," he said.
"Security forces deployed in Delhi answer ultimately to you, so I ask: As Home Minister, did you approve the use of lethal force, including pellet guns against students? If not, who did?" Rahul said. Are the people in plain clothes seen beating students with lathis police personnel or volunteers, he asked.
'Just the beginning', says Dipke
Calling the campaign just the beginning, Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke on Sunday (July 26) said the party had "a long way to go" and vowed to continue its political journey.
In his first video message after Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation, Dipke thanked supporters across the country for standing by the movement throughout its 37-day protest.
Also read | How songs of resistance have bound protestors at Jantar Mantar with generations of past dissenters
He also expressed gratitude to those who had criticised the party, saying their feedback had helped it improve. "I want to thank everyone who criticised us and asked legitimate questions. If you hadn't criticised us, we probably wouldn't have improved. It is because of your criticism that we were able to deliver on our promise," he said.
The CJP on Saturday called off its 37-day agitation after Dharmendra Pradhan resigned as Union Education Minister and the Centre accepted its other key demands. The protest, centred on alleged irregularities in the NEET examination, had culminated in a prolonged sit-in at Delhi's Jantar Mantar and drew support from students and Opposition leaders from across the country.
(With agency inputs)
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Live Updates
- 26 July 2026 10:20 AM IST
Students are more important than any post: Amit Shah after Pradhan's exit
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has said that the country, youth and students are far more important than any position for BJP workers and the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan exemplifies this principle.
His remarks came after Pradhan resigned on Saturday amid mounting pressure due to the protests over the NEET paper leak controversy.
"The Modi government respects the sentiments of the country's youth and is committed to implementing the necessary reforms against paper leaks," he said in a post on X late Saturday night. "For the BJP, the nation, our youth and students hold far greater importance than any position," he said.
The decisions taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ensure strict punishment for those guilty of paper leaks are commendable, Shah said. "I am fully confident that these steps will ensure complete justice for the students who succeeded in the NEET examination," the Home Minister said.
- 26 July 2026 9:44 AM IST
Anna Hazare says democracy, dialogue are the way forward
As the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) ended its agitation following the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, social activist Anna Hazare on Saturday said public issues should be resolved through peaceful protest, democracy and dialogue.
Speaking to reporters in Ahilyanagar, the 89-year-old activist said democracy, not "rule by diktat", was the right way to address public grievances. "It is democracy, not rule by diktat, and one should always follow the path of democracy," he said.
Drawing on his own experience of leading public movements, Hazare said meaningful and lasting change could only come through dialogue rather than confrontation. "Any issue gets resolved through dialogue. Dialogue leads to solutions. Creating tension and going down the wrong path will not solve anything," he said.
- 26 July 2026 9:16 AM IST
Himanta Biswa Sarma defends AGP minister after daughter's NEET protest
Videos of Assam minister Keshab Mahanta's daughter joining a protest against irregularities in the NEET exam prompted Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to say that his Cabinet colleague should not be trolled as "she may not follow her father's political ideology".
A protest here on Thursday against examination irregularities and demanding the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan as Union education minister drew attention after Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) leader Keshab Mahanta's daughter Dibisa joined the demonstration.
Clips of her raising slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and demanding Pradhan's resignation have been shared widely on social media. PTI has not ascertained the veracity of the clips.
Reacting to the videos, Sarma on Saturday said, "I don't think we should attack or troll Keshab Mahanta for the protest by his daughter. She may not follow her father's political ideology. Tomorrow when my son will practice law, he may defend someone whom I may not like." He said that once children become adults, their actions should not be linked with their parents.
"I do not agree with the slogans she raised. When I meet her next time, I will definitely talk to her about it and try to make her understand that what she said was not right," Sarma said.
- 26 July 2026 9:10 AM IST
NDMC launches overnight cleanup at Jantar Mantar after CJP ends protest
The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) launched an overnight cleanup drive at Jantar Mantar and nearby areas after the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) ended its 37-day protest following the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
Late on Saturday night, sanitation workers were seen clearing the protest site and cleaning roads around Jantar Mantar, Tolstoy Marg, Sansad Marg, Jai Singh Marg and Connaught Place.
NDMC Vice Chairperson Kuljeet Singh Chahal said civic officials and sanitation teams had been deployed across the area to restore normalcy. "All the NDMC officers are out on the streets. The protest has ended, and people have almost left. By morning, we believe we will clean this entire area--Tolstoy Marg, Jantar Mantar, Sansad Marg, Jai Singh Marg, the CP area," Chahal told ANI. He said separate sanitation and road-washing teams had been deployed for the exercise.
"We have a sanitation team and a washing team. We learn from the Prime Minister that we must fulfil our responsibility and accountability. Whenever we are given any responsibility, and it's our responsibility to keep the city clean, hygienic, and tidy, we have to go down to ground zero ourselves and monitor everything and keep it in order," he added.
- 26 July 2026 8:53 AM IST
Abhijeet Dipke thanks supporters in first video after Pradhan's resignation
Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke on Sunday released his first video message after Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation, thanking supporters across the country for backing the movement throughout its 37-day protest.
- 26 July 2026 8:26 AM IST
Amit Shah lauds Dharmendra Pradhan's tenure as education minister
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday lauded Dharmendra Pradhan's tenure as Union Education Minister following his resignation, saying he had ushered in several major reforms in the education sector.
Shah credited Pradhan with playing a key role in implementing the National Education Policy (NEP), expanding PM SHRI Schools, advancing digital education, strengthening skill development, fostering industry-academia collaboration, and enabling examinations in regional languages.
He also described Pradhan's efforts to make the examination system more inclusive and student-centric as "noteworthy", adding that his tenure reflected a strong commitment to the vision of building a developed India.
- 26 July 2026 8:03 AM IST
Jantar Mantar protest site empties after CJP calls off agitation
Morning visuals from Jantar Mantar showed the protest site largely deserted after the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) called off its agitation following Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation.
- 26 July 2026 7:16 AM IST
All Delhi Metro stations reopen after CJP ends Jantar Mantar protest
The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) on Sunday announced that all stations across the Delhi Metro network had reopened for passenger services, with both entry and exit gates now operational.
"All stations of the Delhi Metro network are open (both entry and exit) for passenger services," the DMRC said in a post on X.
The announcement came a day after the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) officially called off its protest at Jantar Mantar following the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
The DMRC had earlier announced on Saturday evening that entry gates at all metro stations had reopened. The temporary restrictions had been imposed as part of security arrangements around Jantar Mantar and adjoining areas during the protest.
- 26 July 2026 7:12 AM IST
Youth rid country of fear; will hold rally to congratulate them: Uddhav, Raj
Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray and MNS chief Raj Thackeray have said the rally organised by their parties in Mumbai on Sunday will take place as planned to congratulate the youth, who have brought the country out of an “atmosphere of fear”.
The cousins were addressing a joint press conference following Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation in the wake of the unprecedented youth-led movement that galvanised lakhs of people over irregularities in exams and the NEET paper leak.
The agitation, spearheaded by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), was not just about Pradhan's resignation, said Uddhav.
“The youth have brought the country out of an atmosphere of fear...a cockroach has made a dictator bow. Those who addressed the youth as cockroaches should not behave in an arrogant manner,” the former Maharashtra chief minister said.
Raj Thackeray said that they would go ahead with their scheduled rally at Shivaji Park in central Mumbai on Sunday, originally planned to support the CJP’s agitation demanding Pradhan’s resignation, to congratulate the youth on their victory.
“The illusion that whatever this government does will be tolerated has been shattered. The protests by the youth have shown this to the world,” Uddhav said. He said the protests have shown that “dictatorship” cannot be imposed in the country and that the youth would crush any such attempt.
- 26 July 2026 7:10 AM IST
'Better late than never': MM Joshi on Pradhan's resignation
After Dharmendra Pradhan stepped down as Union education minister, veteran BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi on Saturday congratulated students for the "peaceful conclusion" of their agitation.
Pradhan's resignation earlier in the day came amid mounting pressure over the NEET paper leak controversy, with the Centre conceding the principal demand of the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP)-led agitation after weeks of protests that spread from the national capital to several parts of the country.
Pradhan announced his decision in a statement, saying the developments of the past 10 days had "saddened" him deeply and that the issue was "not a matter of personal prestige." Commenting on the development, Joshi said in a post on X, "Better late than never. Shri Dharmendra Pradhan has submitted his resignation." "I appreciate and congratulate all the students for their peaceful conclusion to the movement. I hope that now, peace will soon be established in the world of Indian education and that the young people will have ample opportunities for their bright future and progress," the BJP veteran added.
Coming out in support of the students protesting against the alleged NEET paper leak, Joshi on Thursday had said their "anxieties and concerns" regarding the examination system were "genuine".
