CJP Jantar Mantar Protest Highlights: Activist Sonam Wangchuk ends fast after 26 days; CJP to continue protest, says Dipke

Liz Mathew reports that Union Home Minister Amit Shah met Union Minister Jitendra Singh at the formers’ residence a little while ago. The government is working on a strategy to get leaders of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) to sit down for another round of talks.

Anita Dipke, mother of Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke, on Thursday expressed concern over the lathi-charge on protesting students in New Delhi, saying it was extremely painful to watch them being beaten. She urged the government to listen to the agitating students and release those detained at the earliest.

"I wish the government would listen to the agitating students and release them as soon as possible. I am worried after seeing the students beaten brutally. Watching all this has left me emotional. It is extremely painful to see students being beaten like animals," Anita Dipke said, according to PTI.

She said the students were beaten despite doing nothing and that she feared what might happen to them. "The government is simply buying time. It won elections with the support of people, but is now not listening to them. Students are demanding the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan, and the government should listen to them," she added.

Activist Sonam Wangchuk's wife, Gitanjali Angmo, said it was "deeply painful" to see students being portrayed negatively and questioned why it was "easier to question their intentions than to hear their concerns". The remarks come amid allegations of violence during the Cockroach Janta Party's 'Sansad Chalo' march.

In a post on X, Angmo said "if there are reports of violence elsewhere in Delhi, please do not rush to attribute them to this movement without evidence."

"As an educator, I find it deeply painful to watch the image of our students being tarnished on media," she said.

As an educator, I find it deeply painful to watch the image of our students being tarnished on media.
The students' protest is taking place peacefully at Jantar Mantar. If there are reports of violence elsewhere in Delhi, please do not rush to attribute them to this movement…

— Gitanjali J Angmo (@GitanjaliAngmo) July 23, 2026

Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati urged the government and protesters to work together to find a "peaceful and amicable resolution" to the ongoing Cockroach Janata Party protest at Jantar Mantar. In a post on X, Mayawati said the indefinite protest near Parliament had created a dire situation and affected the lives of the students and their families.

"An indefinite protest led by the 'Cockroach Janata Party' (CJP) has been underway for several days at Jantar Mantar, near Parliament in the national capital, highlighting the severe impact on students and their families caused by paper leaks and other irregularities in major examinations like NEET," Mayawati said in a post on X.

"This protest has sparked a massive uproar extending from the streets to Parliament; its subsequent politicisation has turned it into a direct confrontation with the government--a critical situation the country must resolve, as it is disrupting daily life not only in Delhi but across various states," she said.

Beautiful news from my favorite fellow cockroach ⬇️
Cockroach Democracy: Unarmed and Dangerous - The Wire https://t.co/ZbYFfu0HZI

— John Cusack (@johncusack) July 23, 2026

Students of the university should not become a “political tool” and must stay away from the ongoing CJP-led protests despite any sense of solidarity with the movement, a senior Delhi University official told The Indian Express' Vidheesha Kuntamalla, warning that participation in such agitations could have consequences.

The remarks come a day after the university, in a post on its official X handle, said, “We see the pain and anxiety of our students. It is unfortunate that vested interests are exploiting their fears instead of easing them. The need of the hour is to calm the situation and reduce their distress, so that they can focus on what truly matters: their studies and their future.”

The university’s response comes amid nationwide protests led by the CJP over alleged irregularities in competitive examinations and demands for greater transparency and accountability in the examination system.

We see the pain and anxiety of our students. It is unfortunate that vested interests are exploiting their fears instead of easing them. The need of the hour is to calm the situation and reduce their distress, so that they can focus on what truly matters: their studies and their…

— University of Delhi (@UnivofDelhi) July 21, 2026

The Mumbai Police on Thursday ordered an enquiry against a police driver caught on video threatening to “plant powder” on protestors detained during the CJP protest. He has been shifted from his current posting and an enquiry is complete.

In the video, shot by protestors sitting inside a police van, the driver is heard saying: “Wapis idhar kidhar mila to mere jaisa bekaar aadmi koi nahin hoga… main direct 50-50 gram powder dalega khise me phir gaya phir zindagi gaya no jamin. tumhare wajah se humareko takleef hain” (If I see you here again, there won’t be anyone worse than me. I will directly plant 50 grams of powder in your pockets, and it will ensure you won’t get bail and your life will be ruined.) Read full article

एक वायरल वीडियो में दावा किया गया है कि @MumbaiPolice प्रदर्शन कर रहे छात्रों को धमका रही है कि अगर वे दोबारा प्रदर्शन करने लौटे, तो उन्हें झूठे ड्रग्स के मामले में फँसा दिया जाएगा और पूरी ज़िंदगी जेल में सड़ना पड़ेगा।

अगर यह सच है, तो यह सिर्फ़ छात्रों को डराने की कोशिश नहीं,… pic.twitter.com/36KescEmro

— Mumbai Congress (@INCMumbai) July 23, 2026

Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) president Raj Thackeray on Thursday announced a joint march in Mumbai on Sunday in support of students protesting against the Centre. The Thackeray cousins accused the Narendra Modi government of suppressing dissent instead of engaging with agitating youth, The Indian Express' Zeeshan Shaikh reports.

Bollywood actor Alia Bhatt has come out in support of the Cockroach Janta Party protests in the national capital. In a post on Instagram, Alia backed student protesters and said, "The last few days have broken my heart and then mended it, again and again, with hope. Behind every student standing their ground is a dream, a family's hope, a journey of countless sacrifices. They represent not just themselves but everyone who has supported them, while creating a better path for those who will come after them."

She lauded the student protesters, saying their "courage humbles me". "Their resolve is a mirror held up to all of us, asking whether we are truly listening to the very people who will inherit and shape this country's tomorrow. For the students. By the students. The future is theirs Jai Hind," she added.

Several Bollywood celebrities, including Salman Khan, Huma Qureshi and others, have also came out in support of the Cockroach Janta Party protest.

Bollywood actor Huma Qureshi shows up at Jantar Mantar in solidarity with the peaceful protesters.

Dharmendra Pradhan must resign! pic.twitter.com/zTU2LRigng

— Cockroach Janta Party (@CJP_for_India) July 23, 2026

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju on Thursday said in the Lok Sabha that the Opposition can decide on the date and duration of discussion on NEET paper leak issue in both Houses of the Parliament.

Congress MP KC Venugopal has said that all the Opposition parties have decided that they would not engage in any discussion before Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigns. “We have conveyed this to Speaker Om Birla, he said. Except AAP and DMK, all parties had agreed to the Opposition stance. The Opposition’s decision comes amid the students’ protests raging across the country demanding Pradhan’s resignation over the NEET paper leaks. Read full article

Congress MP K C Venugopal said the Opposition MPs were unitedly fighting and protesting for the youth. In a social media post, the Congress MP from Kerala said "the BJP is completely rattled and resorting to bluff and bluster to salvage its image."

"On our part, there is no questioning of going back on our core demands, starting with Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation," he added. (Image credit: X/KC Venugopal)

Lok Sabha resumed on a stormy note yet again on Thursday amid protest from the Opposition. Speaker Om Birla urged the Opposition to let the Question Hour proceed, saying that government is ready to have a discussion. However, the House was adjourned till 12 pm amid protest.

Don’t miss this report from our Hindi team where they spotted policemen in plain clothes, defying orders about being in uniform. When questioned, they couldn't give a proper answer and ran away!

Congress President and Rajya Sabha MP Mallikarjun Kharge launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, demanding the immediate resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Taking to X, Kharge alleged that the country's education system has "corroded" under the current administration and accused the government of using "indiscriminate brutality" against protesting students.

"@narendramodiji, Education system has corroded under your watch. We do not need platitudes or peacemeal announcements. Your government lathicharged the youth, used pellet guns, shock batons, indiscriminate brutality with impunity, as if they are not our own children," Kharge wrote on X. "Come out of your air-conditioned ivory towers and look into the eyes of the young men and women who bled on the streets, fighting your dictatorship."

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his swift action promise over paper leaks even as he reiterated his call for sacking Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. In a social media post, Gandhi hit out at PM Modi, saying "You are the one who has harmed the future of our youth the most."

Listing out his demands, the Congress leader said, "Sack Dharmendra Pradhan. Apologise to the students. Take action against those who assaulted them."

You are the one who has harmed the future of our youth the most.

You allowed and encouraged the total capture and destruction of our education system - and protected every person responsible for it.

The students’ demands are clear:
1. Sack Dharmendra Pradhan.
2. Apologise to… https://t.co/0MK4wPMNiK

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) July 23, 2026

The Mumbai Police has started calling protesters asking them to stay home, showing up at their houses and requesting live locations to keep them from returning to the streets. One protester posted screenshots on social media of a WhatsApp conversation in which a senior inspector from Versova police station asked her to stay home and “send her live location and keep it on” to prove she had. However, the police official refused to comment on the issue.

Others said police visited their homes directly. “While they did not visit my residence, many protesters were youngsters who had not told their families about it. By sending policemen to their houses, it was also a way of informing their families and discouraging them from joining the protest,” one protestor said. Read full article

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday announced setting up fast-track courts to ensure justice and punish those involved in paper leak cases. In a social media post on X, the prime minister promised stringent punishment for those involved in such crimes.

"Nothing is more important than the welfare and future of our youth! 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," PM Modi said in the social media post.

Nothing is more important than the welfare and future of our youth!

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…

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 23, 2026

Declining to accept the Delhi Police argument that aggrieved protesters must individually pursue action against alleged brutalities and excessive use of force during July 20 march, the Delhi High Court on Wednesday agreed to hear two public interest litigations on the issue.

“Is it a case of some isolated individual incidents? Perhaps no. If it was an unlawful assembly as you say, subject to further submissions and records, there is a law on how to deal with it. There is a Supreme Court judgment (that prescribes circumstances and extent of use of force by police). If these issues are being raised in this PIL, how can you say every individual should go and lodge an FIR? If it is an isolated incident, you would have been correct in (saying), approach the magistrate and police station or lodge a private complaint, but this is not such an incident as is being asserted. We are not saying they (petitioners) are correct. Therefore, we will only ask you to file your responses,” Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya observed.

The bench of Chief Justice Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia directed the police to file responses within four weeks and to preserve video footage and other records as per the Standard Operating Procedure.

Activist Sonam Wangchuk on Wednesday said he would end his fast and ask the students to “halt the movement for now and enter into a dialogue with the government” if it fulfils its assurances to him and does not press for legal action against the protesters.

In a letter to Union Ministers J P Nadda and Jitendra Singh, Wangchuk without insisting on the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, said the ministers had assured him that the government would consider providing “adequate compensation for the families of the students who had committed suicide following the examination paper leak” and “a meaningful discussion in Parliament to ensure accountability including consideration of the resignation” of Pradhan.

The letter comes a day after the two ministers had come to meet the fasting activist in the Gurugram hospital.

AN APPEAL TO THE GOVERNMENT
regarding breaking my fast…
Once the assurance from govt come I will also appeal to the peacefully protesting students to halt the movement for now and enter into dialogue with the government pic.twitter.com/gR6S8woF5R

— Sonam Wangchuk (@Wangchuk66) July 22, 2026

Sixteen Delhi Metro stations, including Rajiv Chowk, Central Secretariat, Mandi House, ITO and Khan Market, remain closed for a second day on Thursday morning due to security reasons, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) said in a social media post.

The development comes as the crowd swelled at the ongoing Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest at Jantar Mantar.

"Lok Kalyan Marg, Rajiv Chowk, Patel Chowk, Ramakrishna Ashram Marg, Barakhamba Road, Supreme Court, Seva Teerth, Janpath, Mandi House, Central Secretariat, ITO, Delhi Gate, Indraprastha, Khan Market, Jor Bagh and Shivaji Stadium metro stations have been closed till further instructions," the DMRC said in a post on X.

Service Update

Below mentioned Metro stations will be closed from 07:30 AM till further instructions. However, Interchange facility shall remain available at Rajiv Chowk, Mandi House and Central Secretariat.

1. Lok Kalyan Marg
2. Rajiv Chowk
3. Patel Chowk
4. Ramakrishna…

— Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (@OfficialDMRC) July 23, 2026