Jantar Mantar protest LIVE: Congress supports all demands raised by students, Modi must apologise to them, says Rahul

“Are your demands non-negotiable? Will Parliament function?,” a mediaperson asked Rahul Gandhi, to which he replied: “The demands are non negotiable but whether the House runs tomorrow, is up to Opposition parties.”

“In every government, there comes a time when the government collapses psychologically. This government is in panic,” Mr. Gandhi said before concluding his press conference. 

– Sandeep Phukan

“Even the police are not happy at what is being done, they can see their children in this,” Mr. Gandhi said, speaking further on the scuffle that took place between Opposition leaders protesting near the PM’s residence and the police who detained them. 

“It’s true that the cops dragged me but they were whispering into my ears, remove this government,” he added. 

– Sandeep Phukan

“My job is to express will of the people,” Rahul Gandhi said while responding to a question about how the political leaders were detained yesterday, causing the LoP to bleed. “I am honoured to take up this role,” he added. 

On AAP’s charge, Mr Gandhi said “we are supporting the students. I had a nose bleed but I supported the students.”

– The Hindu Bureau

“We thought since the students are on the streets, we thought the Opposition should also be on the streets,” Mr. Gandhi said in response to a question on what prompted the Congress party to carry out a sit-in dharna near the PM’s residence on Tuesday (July 21, 2026). 

“Before hitting the streets, we approached the Speaker and asked for a discussion. He said he will ask the government but there was no discussion,” he said adding that this (NEET leak) is a Central issue, and therefore the solution has to come from the Centre. 

– Sandeep Phukan

“How I was treated is irrelevant to me.” Mr. Gandhi said while responding to a question on the protest he held yesterday in front of the PM’s residence. 

“Treat me five times worse, I don’t care. The focus has to be education system, paper leaks and NEET exams,” he added.

On the government’s allegation that Leader of the Opposition crossed a line, he said, “It has no consequence to me.”

-Sandeep Phukan

Addressing the media, Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi presents figures highlighting that India’s families spend in total on NEET as much money as the Centre allocates to Education in its annual budget

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Addressing a press conference in Delhi, Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi said Dharmendra Pradhan has failed as Education Minister. He followed this up with saying that the demands raised by students are legitimate. 

“Dharmendra Pradhan has destroyed India’s biggest asset,” he said, adding that the party fully supports the demands raised by students. 

Climate activist and education reformer Sonam Wangchuk was admitted to Medanta – The Medicity, Gurugram on Tuesday evening and is currently under treatment in the ICU, the hospital said in a health bulletin on Wednesday (July 22, 2026).

According to the bulletin issued by Sanjay Durani, Medical Superintendent of Medanta, Mr. Wangchuk is being treated by a multi-disciplinary team of doctors. 

“Presently, he is stable, oriented and his vital signs are within accepted parameters. All treatment being administered to him is in accordance with his informed consent,” the bulletin stated.

– Ashok Berwal

A brief moment of chaos was witnessed near the Jantar Mantar protest site. A crowd of people was seen throwing empty bottles in the air, and many running in one direction. 

Delhi Police made repeated announcements at the intersection of Leo Tolstoy Marg- Sansad Marg where crowd has gathered for the people to move to the Jantar Mantar designated protest site, meters ahead. It asked to clear the road as BNSS 163 is in effect and listen to their volunteers.

– Suruchi Kumari

Activist Sonam Wangchuk, who is on day 25 of his indefinite fast, was admitted to the ICU upon arrival at the private hospital in Gurugram last evening and is currently “stable and oriented”, Medanta Hospital said in a health bulletin on Wednesday evening (July 22, 2026).

“His vital signs are withing accepted parameters. All treatment being administered to him is in accordance to his informed consent,” the hospital added.

THB

Maharashtra BJP president Ravindra Chavan on Wednesday (July 20, 2026) termed the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)-led agitation as “sponsored”, and claimed that those behind the protest will be exposed within a few days.

“This (CJP protest in Delhi) is a sponsored agitation. A huge wave of development is currently underway across the country under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Narendra Modi,” he said.

The Opposition bloc has different agendas and they are trying to find opportunities for themselves in this protest, he alleged.

“In a few days, it will become known who has sponsored this agitation and that will be revealed to the public,” he said.

PTI

Delhi High Court on Wednesday (July 22, 2026) sought response of the Centre and the Delhi Police on petitions highlighting use of “excessive force” against protesters during the Cockroach Janta Party-led march at Parliament on July 20. 

The Court also directed the Delhi Police to preserve all records relating to the incident, including CCTV footage and videography, if any, in accordance with the SOPs in place.

Soibam Rocky Singh

The 21-year-old woman, who was critically injured during the police action at the Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP) July 20 protest, has been taken off ventilator support, with doctors at Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital on Wednesday (July 22, 2026) saying she is now conscious, breathing on her own and responding appropriately to commands.

Sakshi, a Chhattarpur Extension resident, sustained injuries to her face, chest and neck and was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). She was at the protest on Monday (July 20) with her cousin, who also got injured in her leg.

The patient is conscious, responding appropriately to commands, and her MRI scans of the brain and spine are normal, hospital authorities said.

She is currently the only patient admitted to RML Hospital in connection with the incident, with all necessary treatment and continuous monitoring being provided, they added.

PTI

The BJP on Wednesday (July 22, 2026) defended the Centre’s handling of the Cockroach Janta Party-led agitation, saying the government remained “sensitive” to what has been projected as a student movement and was always open to dialogue.

The ruling party also accused the Opposition of spreading a false narrative that India’s examination system has collapsed. It also alleged that Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and other opposition parties are trying to derive political mileage from the protests.

Addressing a press conference, BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj said the movement launched by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) was projected as a student movement and the government’s approach towards it has remained sensitive. 

Ms. Swaraj alleged that after meeting Union Miniser J.P. Nadda, the protesters assured the government they would not continue the agitation but failed to keep their word.

PTI

On Monday (July 20, 2026), Mumbai police detained over 300 individuals near Chaityabhoomi in Dadar who had gathered to oppose the removal of Sonam Wangchuk from a Delhi hunger strike and demand the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over examination paper leaks.

Police have registered eight FIRs across Mumbai stations naming over 900 accused, with the highest count exceeding 600 at Shivaji Park Police Station.

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Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) president C. Joseph Vijay on Wednesday (July 22, 2026) said his party remains firm in its uncompromising stand that the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) should be abolished.

T.N. CM Vijay says NEET must be scrapped, condemns Rahul Gandhi’s detention in New Delhi

Tamil Nadu CM Vijay demands scrapping of NEET and condemns the anti-democratic detention of Rahul Gandhi and opposition leaders.

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on Wednesday (July 22, 2026) afternoon alleged that the Delhi Police has “abandoned” all security duties at the Jantar Mantar where thousands of people continue to gather in protest against the lack of accountability in the NEET paper ‘leak’ issue.

The CJP said that student volunteers are running checks at the front gate while the bag-scanning machine at the back gate has been quietly removed. 

“Police are completely recklessly negligent. What exactly is being conspired by the Delhi Police?” the CJP asked, adding that the police will be responsible if anything untoward happens at the protest site.

Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), led by founder Abhijeet Dipke, has appealed to activist Sonam Wangchuk to call off his prolonged hunger strike as concerns of his health, while vowing that the demonstrations at Jantar Mantar will persist until their core demands are met.

Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday (July 22, 2026) hit out at the Opposition, accusing them of using the country’s youth as “political tools” and creating a “manufactured sense of anger” to serve their own interests.

Addressing the ongoing protests by the Cockroach Janta Party and other groups in the national capital, Mr. Singh said: “The ongoing protests in Delhi are a matter of serious concern. And it is extremely unfortunate that some people are trying to use the students and youth of our country as a political tool to serve their political interests. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, our government is fully committed to fulfilling the aspirations of students and youth and to their welfare.”

Mr. Singh emphasised that the government is attentive to the grievances of the student community. “It is our responsibility to listen to every concern of our students and resolve it. I am fully confident that the aware, mature and sensible youth of India will understand such misleading attempts and they will choose the path of progress, development and nation-building; I am fully assured,” he added.

Several people, who were detained during the July 20 CJP-led ‘Chalo Sansad’ march, are still in different police stations across Delhi, lawyers on the ground told The Hindu.

The CJP leadership, led by founder Abhijeet Dipke, have highlighted a demand that no FIR or future FIR should be lodged against any protester.

THB

A total of 10 FIRs have been registered so far in connection with the July 20 CJP-led Parliament march in Delhi.

Police station-wise breakup of the FIRs:

• Parliament Street Police Station – 4 FIRs
• Connaught Place Police Station – 3 FIRs
• Mandir Marg Police Station – 1 FIR
• Barakhamba Road Police Station – 1 FIR
• Kartavya Path Police Station – 1 FIR

According to the police, the FIRs have been registered over various incidents that occurred during the protest, as well as matters related to law and order. The investigations are ongoing.

THB

A seven-member delegation of Opposition MPs are visiting activist Sonam Wangchuk, who is currently at Gurugram’s Medanta Hospital, to urge him to break his indefinite fast.

Mr. Wangchuk has been on the hunger strike for the last 25 days, seeking education reforms and the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET paper ‘leak’ issue.

THB

Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) spokesperson Saurav Das on Wednesday afternoon (July 22, 2026) said that they are willing to meet Union Miniser J.P. Nadda again today, but at a “neutral venue” near Jantar Mantar and only if the government has an “intention” to accept the demands. Mr. Das said they are yet to hear back from the government on this.

“If the government is concerned about security at the protest site, we are willing to meet at a neutral venue near Jantar Mantar. We are still waiting to hear back from them.”

“The government must have the intention to accept our demands. There is no point in calling us for meaningless discussions. Our time is valuable. Thousands of people are still participating in the protest, and we have to manage that as well… The government should clarify whether it genuinely intends to engage with us,” he added.

The Bihar Police on Wednesday (July 22, 2026) fired tear gas shells, used water cannon and baton-charged to thwart a ‘Lok Bhavan march’ of student leaders here, who were demanding Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation over the NEET paper leak.

The protesters had gathered under the banner of the All India Students’ Association (AISA), an affiliate of the CPI(ML) Liberation, and they faced the police action near Gandhi Maidan, about three km away from the Governor’s residence.

CPI(ML) Liberation MLA Sandeep Sourav, who is a former AISA national general secretary, was leading the procession.

Police could not immediately confirm the number of people detained in connection with the protests here.

Mobile Internet services were shut down in parts of Central Delhi during the Chalo Sansad protest organised by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP). Reportedly, signal jammers had been deployed to disrupt access to the Internet during the protest. Protesters faced difficulties uploading videos and using navigation apps.

The Internet shutdown, which remained in place until July 20 evening, drew condemnation from the Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF) and the Software Freedom Law Centre, India (SFLC).

“The Delhi Police has no moral right to offer advice to us about peaceful protests after cracking the heads of students on July 20,” Abhijet Dipke said at Jantar Mantar today.

The closure of 16 metro stations by the DMRC due to “security reasons” amid the ongoing CJP protest on Wednesday (July 22, 2026) left hundreds of office-goers, students and other commuters stranded, forcing many to change routes midway, exit at unfamiliar stations and scramble for alternative transport during the morning rush.

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) on Wednesday morning closed 16 Delhi Metro stations, including Rajiv Chowk, Central Secretariat, Mandi House, ITO and Khan Market, citing “security reasons”.

For many, it was the second such disruption within a week, adding to frustration over repeated delays to their daily commute. A similar shutdown happened on Monday.

Passengers said trains continued to run on several stretches but skipped closed stations, leaving them with little option but to travel further and retrace their journey by road.

The Cockroach Janta Party has asked people at Jantar Mantar to stick to shouting four specific slogans in order to avoid giving chance to those looking to “make a narrative”. The four slogans “allowed” are: ’Bharat Mata ki Jai’; ‘Inquilab Zindabad’; ‘Jai Bheem’; ‘Dharmendra Pradhan Istifa do’.

“They are looking to make narrative, we will not tolerate any negative slogans”, CJP spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka said at Jantar Mantar.

Around 100 people, mostly youngsters, gathered at Queen’s Walkway in Kochi, Kerala, on Tuesday midnight in solidarity with the ongoing protests in Delhi against the NEET question paper leak even as the political storm created by the protests in the national capital continues.

The protesters, many clad in black, joined a candlelight vigil following a call made through an Instagram handle named Azadi Kerala.

Kochi youth hold midnight vigil in solidarity with Jantar Mantar protests

Kochi youth hold a midnight vigil in solidarity with Delhi protests against the NEET question paper leak, expressing strong dissent.

A day after two Union Minister met with Sonam Wangchuk urging him to appeal to students to avoid further escalation of protests, Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju on Wednesday (July 22, 2026) informed the Lok Sabha of the government’s willingness to take up a discussion on the NEET paper ‘leak’ issue.

Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange is seen at the Jantar Mantar protest site in New Delhi, with Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke.

The Supreme Court on Wednesday (July 22, 2026) declined a request for urgent listing of a plea challenging the police action against students during the Cockroach Janta Party-led protest march in Delhi.

The matter was mentioned before a bench comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana.

“I have the videos as well regarding police brutality… If it can be listed tomorrow (Thursday)… students are there,” the lawyer said. He said that students had allegedly been subjected to police brutality during the protest and said the petition contained three prayers.

The CJI declined the request and made it clear that the bench was not inclined to examine video footage at the mentioning stage. “We are not interested in videos, we don’t have time to watch… We don’t want to watch videos,” the CJI said.

When the counsel reiterated that students had been beaten up and again referred to the video evidence, the CJI said, “Don’t waste our time. We don’t want to watch any videos.” 

PTI

Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal has demanded that the list of police personnel and protesters injured during the march to Parliament be made public and expressed apprehension that students may be turned into accused in FIRs, alleging that this happened during the 2020 Delhi riots as well.

Mr. Sibal said children should raise their voice peacefully in every city of the country, so that governments listen to them.

He also lashed out at Union minister J.P. Nadda over his assertion that a proposal came from the protesters to hold talks with the government and asked that when “our fasting children’s proposals” were known to all, was the government waiting to tear gas and lathi-charge them.

After initially closing four metro stations, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation on Wednesday (July 22, 2026) announced that a total of 16 stations have been closed till further instructions due to security reasons.

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Backing the students’ protests in Delhi, DMK chief and former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin called for the NEET examination to be scrapped.

“We were the first to warn that NEET was designed to enable large-scale irregularities. That is why the DMK has opposed NEET from the very beginning, consistently pointing out the the dangers it poses,” he wrote in a post on X.

Janpath, Rajiv Chowk, Patel Chowk and Central Secretariat metro stations in central Delhi were closed on Wednesday morning (July 22, 2026), the DMRC said.

This comes amid the ongoing Cockroach Janta Party-led protest at Jantar Mantar.

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As the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) continues its sit-in at Jantar Mantar with “thousands” of people in support, national spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka said that “millions more will come to Delhi” to join them if the government does not agree to its demands, specifically the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

“This is the biggest movement in India’s post-independence history. We have said this very clearly, what happened on 20th was a trailer. If the Govt doesn’t agree, millions more will come to Delhi because this time we will not hold back and stay silent. The Govt. really needs to get its act together otherwise the youth of this country is going to take them down very badly. A narrative is trying to be built that we will not be peaceful, but we are,” Mr. Ranka said.

After activist Sonam Wangchuk was moved to a private hospital on Tuesday (July 21, 2026) following the Delhi High Court order, Union Ministers J.P. Nadda and Dr. Jitendra Singh visited him at Medanta Hospital in Gurugram. 

They also conveyed the government’s decision to initiate a debate in Parliament, sources said, adding that the ministers assured Mr. Wangchuk that education reforms are being addressed. 

They urged him to appeal to students to repose faith in the government’s process and avoid further escalation.

Nistula Hebbar

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), in an update from Jantar Mantar on Wednesday morning, said that “thousands and thousands of protesters” are at the protest site.

“When is Dharmendra Pradhan Mantri resigning?” they questioned in a post on X.

An FIR has been registered in connection with a video showing a Rapid Action Force (RAF) jawan being chased and assaulted allegedly by a group of protesters during the CJP’s march, police said today.

The video, shared widely across social media platforms, purportedly showed the RAF jawan being surrounded, chased and thrashed by several protesters during the Cockroach Janta Party’s march towards Parliament on Monday to demand accountability from the government over alleged examination irregularities.

Police said the FIR had been registered in connection with the incident and an investigation launched to identify those involved in the assault.

-PTI

The Centre has ordered deployment of 20 additional companies of the CRPF in Delhi to strengthen security measures in view of the CJP protests and demonstrations by various political parties, officials said today.

The forces, all drawn from the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), are being airlifted from West Bengal after the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) ordered their immediate deployment in the national capital on last night.

A total of 20 CRPF companies are being airlifted from Kolkata to be deployed in Delhi to strengthen law and order in view of the CJP protests, demonstrations by various political parties and the ongoing Parliament session, official sources in the security establishment said.

-PTI

Activists from a U.S.-based advocacy group held demonstrations in New York and San Jose to express solidarity with activist Sonam Wangchuk, who has been on an indefinite hunger strike in New Delhi over alleged irregularities in the conduct of the NEET exams.

Activists from the ‘Hindus for Human Rights’ gathered at the statue of Mahatma Gandhi in New York City’s Union Square and San Jose on Monday evening, carrying placards bearing slogans in support of Mr. Wangchuk.

Read more:

Protests in New York, San Jose in support of Wangchuk

Activists in New York and San Jose protest for Sonam Wangchuk, demanding accountability from the Indian government over NEET exam irregularities.

The Delhi police yesterday registered four FIRs against unknown individuals for rioting, assault on public servants, damage to public property and other offences during Monday’s Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest.

Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (ADCP) Anand Kumar Mishra said there is an ongoing investigation into whether the entire violence was “premeditated and executed in an organised, coordinated” manner. 

Read more:

Outside the layers of barricades of the Jantar Mantar protest site of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), at the intersection of Tolstoy Marg and Sansad Marg, Aayu Jacob, 18, stopped his blue-coloured motorcycle for the 20th time since Tuesday morning.

Every few minutes, a new delivery person stopped at the intersection to deliver food to the protest site, but to no particular person.

The food was being ordered by hundreds of people across the country, with the location as Jantar Mantar protest site and instructions to give the food to the protestors. The food items ranged from pizzas, burgers, momos, to thaalis.

Read more:

Hundreds of people order food online for protestors at Jantar Mantar

Hundreds nationwide order food for protestors at Jantar Mantar, overwhelming delivery services and prompting organizers to halt further orders.