Jantar Mantar Protest Highlights: CJP calls off protests ‘in good faith’ after talks with Centre

"Cockroaches won, Democracy won", the Cockroach Janta Party said in their first response following Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation.

Cockroaches won.. Democracy won!

Jai Hind! 🇮🇳✊🏼

— Cockroach is Back (@Cockroachisback) July 25, 2026

Here is the full text of Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation letter:

My young friends,

For more than the past four decades, I have been dedicated to students, teachers, and education reform. I have always believed that only a strong, inclusive, and far-sighted education system is the foundation of a strong nation.

I deeply respect the aspirations, feelings, and just expectations of the country's youth. Realizing the dreams of India's young generation has been the moral resolve of all our political and social lives. I express my gratitude to the honorable Prime Minister for the opportunity I received to serve the nation under his visionary leadership.

However, an irregularity came to light and was found in the NEET-UG examination held on 3 May 2026. Taking immediate cognizance of this, the Government of India handed over the investigation to the CBI, cancelled the examination, and a date for the re-examination was announced. Along with this, it was decided that from next year this examination would be conducted in CBT (Computer-based-test) mode.

During this period, our main priority was that the examination of more than 20 lakh students be conducted smoothly. For this, work was done under a whole of government approach. In this, along with the Government of India, the state government—especially the district administration—played an important role. Additionally, with the cooperation of students, guardians, and parents, this examination was completed on 21 June 2026.

From the very first day, I took responsibility for this and never turned my face away from the situation. My resolve was that we would not let any meritorious student's prospects be ruined because of the exam mafia, and that we would not allow injustice to be done to any student.

The NEET-UG results declared on 16 July were satisfactory, in which many meritorious students from poor backgrounds also found success.

But even during this period, individuals sitting in positions of responsibility tried to create obstacles in order to mislead many students, which caused my heart deep anguish.

I have always been one who holds unshakeable faith in the power of our democracy, and I have always deeply respected the aspirations, dreams, and expectations of the youth. They are not only the future of India, but also the bearers, builders, and architects of the future of a new and developed India.

Watching the sequence of events of the past 10 days, my heart is saddened. This is not a matter of personal prestige for me.

The youth-power of India is the real strength of this country.

We will not let the country's youth-power get trapped in the vicious cycle of delusion—this is my resolve.

So that anti-national forces may not take advantage of the situation that has arisen at Jantar-Mantar and in the country; so that the unity of the country remains intact; so that the future of not even a single student of India gets entangled in legal complications; so that our children devote their time to studies and focus on building their careers—considering this very matter, I have sent my resignation to the honorable Prime Minister.

I express my heartfelt gratitude to the honorable Prime Minister for his guidance, trust, and continuous support. At the same time, I also express my gratitude to all my esteemed colleagues in the Council of Ministers, the officers and staff of the ministry, and all those individuals with whom I had the good fortune of working. Service to the nation is the highest priority of my life. I will always remain dedicated to it.

With the blessings of Lord Shri Jagannath, in the future too I will keep myself dedicated in every possible way to fulfilling the aspirations of Mother India, the people of Odisha, and the youth of the country.

Yours,

Dharmendra Pradhan

Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has resigned.

The Delhi Police rubbished rumours of a crackdown on protesters at Jantar Mantar on Friday evening. Speaking during a press briefing, DCP Rohit Rajbir Singh said, "A politician posted a video on social media at night claiming that the Central government was preparing for a crackdown on protesters at Jantar Mantar. The video created fear, confusion, and panic among the public. Delhi Police clarified that no such action was being planned and urged people not to believe unverified claims. During the investigation, it was also found that some social media accounts operated from Pakistan were spreading fake content related to the protest."

He said Delhi Police, along with other agencies, has been working to identify such accounts, adding that over 400 accounts have been identified so far. "These accounts have been blocked for sharing AI-generated content, deepfake videos, edited images, and other misleading material related to the protest... One such post falsely claimed that a woman had died due to police action during the events of July 20. Delhi Police denied the claim and clarified that no one was killed during the protest," he added.

VIDEO | On CJP protest in Delhi, DCP Rohit Rajbir Singh says, "A politician posted a video on social media at night claiming that the Central government was preparing for a crackdown on protesters at Jantar Mantar. The video created fear, confusion, and panic among the public.… pic.twitter.com/6N3FMahOra

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 25, 2026

The Cockroach Janta Party has called for a candle light march on Sunday in solidarity with the victims of police brutality.

NATIONWIDE CALL FOR A CANDLE MARCH!!

🗓️ 26th July, Sunday
⏰ 6PM pic.twitter.com/uDistbzJId

— Cockroach is Back (@Cockroachisback) July 25, 2026

CJP Protesters at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on Saturday. Express Photo by Praveen Khanna

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday said the protesting students have three demands, including Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation, adding that they are not negotiable. Reacting to reports of a possible cabinet reshuffle in the NDA government and that Dharmendra Pradhan will be moved to some other ministry, the Congress leader said, "This is not acceptable."

"The reason is that Pradhan is a symbol of corruption and of what has happened to the future of India's children. He is a symbol of the destruction of the most valuable thing that this country has, which is our students and their future. And so there is going to be no conversation about Mr Dharmendra Pradhan being moved here, moved there, put behind, forward, nothing. Dharmendra Pradhan has to be sacked," Rahul Gandhi said.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday hit out at the government over paper leaks, saying though the government shut down metro, roads and the internet, it couldn't stop paper leaks. Taking to X, the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha said, "Shut down the metro. Shut down the roads. Shut down the shops. Shut down the Internet. Shut down the food. The government has taken these cruel steps against students who are demanding their rights. But there's just one thing they couldn't shut down, Mr. Modi—paper leaks."

मेट्रो बंद करो।
रास्ते बंद करो।
दुकानें बंद करो।
Internet बंद करो।
खाना बंद करो।

अपना हक़ मांग रहे छात्रों के ख़िलाफ़ सरकार ने ये क्रूर कदम उठाए।

बस एक चीज़ बंद नहीं कर पाए, मोदी जी - पेपर लीक।

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) July 25, 2026

Protests against the NEET in Tamil Nadu intensified on Saturday, with the continuous sit-in at the CPI State Headquarters entering its sixth day, PTI reported. The students have demanded the scrapping of NEET, the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan, and action against the alleged police excesses against protesting youth in Delhi.

The Students' Federation of India (SFI) organised campus demonstrations at Loyola College, Presidency College and other educational institutions. Medical professionals and students across Tamil Nadu are also set to launch a coordinated statewide protest on July 28.

Activist Sonam Wangchuk’s wife, Gitanjali J Angmo, on Friday urged people not to judge the activist after he broke his fast after 26 days of hunger strike. Angmo said Wangchuk is in ICU and has lost 11 kg weight as he chose "sacrifice over comfort". "The least we can offer him is a day of compassion before burdening him with our own expectations and political calculations. Not everyone is qualified to judge a life of selfless service. One must first earn the moral stature to do so. Please..Have a heart," she posted on X.

The Delhi Police on Saturday barricaded and sealed Jantar Mantar and deployed heavy security at the protest site.

VIDEO | Delhi: Jantar Mantar completely barricaded and sealed as CJP-led protest continues; heavy security deployed at the site.

(Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/mbg7pNdlKh

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 25, 2026

Activist Sonam Wangchuk has rejected allegations of striking a "deal" with the Centre and said he ended his 26-day hunger strike only after securing a written assurance as he feared an imminent crackdown on protesters in Delhi. In a video message on Friday, Wangchuk said he agreed to end his indefinite fast only after the Centre gave a written assurance that no legal action would be taken against peaceful protesters.

The activist also rejected allegations that he had compromised with the government. "Last night around midnight, I was told the ministers had agreed to give the assurance in writing. I was in a hurry because the situation in Delhi was such; there was apprehension that a major crackdown could happen," he said. "I was watching reports and was reminded of September 24, 2025, when police and CRPF personnel mercilessly fired at the youth of Ladakh. I was afraid something similar could happen here. I felt that if I ended my fast and appealed for peace, perhaps the situation could be diffused."

AFTER 26 DAYS OF HUNGER DO I NEED TO PROVE MY SINCERITY !!!
Do please watch and help spread the word. Find the full 22 minutes video on my YouTube Channel: Sonam Wangchuk pic.twitter.com/6CO3tjZsSD

— Sonam Wangchuk (@Wangchuk66) July 24, 2026

Veteran actor-director Amol Palekar on Friday joined Bollywood celebrities backing students protesting alleged irregularities in competitive examinations, condemning the police crackdown on demonstrators and offering legal, medical and financial assistance.

In an open letter to the students published in a news daily, Palekar said he was writing "not merely in solidarity, but with gratitude", praising the protesters for carrying forward "the unfinished work of democracy".

"The images of the brutality inflicted upon you have filled us with anguish and anger. A society learns to question itself in its universities. To question those who hold power over your future is not a privilege you seek; it is a democratic responsibility you fulfil," Palekar wrote in the column. "When questions are answered with batons instead of reason, it is not the students who stand diminished. It is the State," he added.

Hours after he was learnt to have asked his fellow Parliamentarians to utilise Instagram for public outreach on social media platform Instagram, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took the lead in this regard by expressing gratitude to his followers for suggestions which had been sent his way via a (video) reel on his late-night address to the nation a day earlier. PM Modi thanked his “friends” for the suggestions that had been recorded as comments in his late-night address on Thursday, even as his social media activity on Instagram appeared to have become more frequent. Read full story

CJP spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka on Saturday said he has received a positive response from the government regarding compensation to kin of suicide victims and revoking criminal cases against protestors. He said there has been no concrete decision from the government on Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation.

"In yesterday's meeting, we received a positive response regarding compensation and legal cases. We got an in-principle agreement, and we hope to receive the written agreement today as well. However, there has been no concrete decision on our main demand... the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan," Ranka told ANI.

Citing reports claiming that Dharmendra Pradhan is not set to resign, he said the meeting with government delegation serves no purpose if the minister is not sacked. "In fact, what we saw in the mainstream media yesterday, citing sources, was that Dharmendra Pradhan will not resign. If he is not going to resign, then these meetings serve no purpose. In that case, we will move ahead with whatever strategy we decide next. If the government remains adamant, despite the entire country demanding only Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation, and says that he will not resign, then let it be made clear. But if the government continues with this approach, we too will be compelled to take tougher decisions," he added.

VIDEO | Delhi Jantar Mantar Protest: CJP spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka, says, "In yesterday's meeting, we received a positive response regarding compensation and legal cases. We got an in-principle agreement, and we hope to receive the written agreement today as well. However,… pic.twitter.com/BFvGHOZWBm

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 25, 2026