July 23, 2026, 07:41:58 IST
CJP protest LIVE: While the protest site remained largely peaceful on Wednesday, tension escalates on Parliament Street
CJP protest live: A day after tensions flared up again amid the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP)-led protests, tight security arrangements are in place at Jantar Mantar with a contingent of police deployed at the spot. DMRC on Thursday said 16 metro stations were closed from 7.30 am till further instructions. These include Rajiv Chowk, Mandi House, Central Secretariat and Supreme Court Metro Station. Even a day earlier, DMRC had closed 16 metro stations.
CJP claimed on Thursday morning that Delhi Police had parked a “completely damaged car” outside the protest site, raising questions about their intentions. “Everyone should remember that this car has been brought here in this condition – it is important to record this before blaming it on peaceful protesters,” the CJP said while sharing visuals of the vehicle.
While the protest site remained largely peaceful on Wednesday, tension escalated on Parliament Street, with clashes between protesters and police. While security personnel fired tear gas shells at the protesters gathered on Parliament Street, the protesters pelted stones at the police personnel and chased them on the main radial road of Connaught Place. According to Delhi Police, at least five policemen – two ACPs, an inspector, a head constable and a constable – were injured in the latest tension.
The CJP on Wednesday also alleged that internet services were shut down around Jantar Mantar, and asked whether the government was preparing for another police crackdown. “Internet service shut down at Jantar Mantar. Is the government planning another brutal action?”. CJP convenor Abhijeet Deepke said in a post on Twitter. In another post, Deepke appealed to the police and paramilitary forces not to follow “illegal orders that ask you to beat up innocent protesters.”
CJP spokesperson Saurav Das reiterated the demand of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and said that this compromise is not worthy. Das said he has spoken several times to activist Sonam Wangchuk, who is on an indefinite fast and is in Medanta Hospital.
Das said the conclusion is that the protest will remain peaceful and conducted “in the right manner”. “Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation is not negotiable. The protests will continue without it,” Das said.
Wangchuk says government has assured that the demand will be considered ‘positively’
Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk on Wednesday claimed that Union ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh met her and assured that the government will “positively consider” the discussion in Parliament to ensure accountability over the paper leak, including the resignation of the education minister. He said the government has assured that it will also consider adequate compensation for the families of students who died by suicide after the alleged NEET paper leak.
However, Wangchuk said he would end his hunger strike only if the government gave a “categorical assurance” that no student or protestor participating in the anti-NEET movement would face punitive or retaliatory legal action.
‘No discussion on paper leak until Education Minister resigns’
While the government underlined its willingness to hold a discussion on the paper leak in Parliament, the opposition demanded the resignation of Union Education Minister Pradhan. Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge said, “There will be no discussion on this issue until the Education Minister resigns…This cannot be a fair discussion until he resigns.”
Meanwhile, opposition MPs protested against the government in the Parliament complex by wearing black clothes. The government accused the opposition of politicizing the students’ ongoing agitation and said it was moving “goalposts”, adding that its doors were “always open” for talks with those leading the protests, people familiar with the matter said.
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CJP claimed on Thursday morning that Delhi Police had parked a “completely damaged car” outside the protest site, raising questions about their intentions. “Everyone should remember that this car has been brought here in this condition – it is important to record this before blaming it on peaceful protesters,” the CJP said while sharing visuals of the vehicle.
While the protest site remained largely peaceful on Wednesday, tension escalated on Parliament Street, with clashes between protesters and police. While security personnel fired tear gas shells at the protesters gathered on Parliament Street, the protesters pelted stones at the police personnel and chased them on the main radial road of Connaught Place. According to Delhi Police, at least five policemen – two ACPs, an inspector, a head constable and a constable – were injured in the latest tension.
The CJP on Wednesday also alleged that internet services were shut down around Jantar Mantar, and asked whether the government was preparing for another police crackdown. “Internet service shut down at Jantar Mantar. Is the government planning another brutal action?”. CJP convenor Abhijeet Deepke said in a post on Twitter. In another post, Deepke appealed to the police and paramilitary forces not to follow “illegal orders that ask you to beat up innocent protesters.”
CJP spokesperson Saurav Das reiterated the demand of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and said that this compromise is not worthy. Das said he has spoken several times to activist Sonam Wangchuk, who is on an indefinite fast and is in Medanta Hospital.
Das said the conclusion is that the protest will remain peaceful and conducted “in the right manner”. “Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation is not negotiable. The protests will continue without it,” Das said.
Wangchuk says government has assured that the demand will be considered ‘positively’
Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk on Wednesday claimed that Union ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh met her and assured that the government will “positively consider” the discussion in Parliament to ensure accountability over the paper leak, including the resignation of the education minister. He said the government has assured that it will also consider adequate compensation for the families of students who died by suicide after the alleged NEET paper leak.
However, Wangchuk said he would end his hunger strike only if the government gave a “categorical assurance” that no student or protestor participating in the anti-NEET movement would face punitive or retaliatory legal action.
‘No discussion on paper leak until Education Minister resigns’
While the government underlined its willingness to hold a discussion on the paper leak in Parliament, the opposition demanded the resignation of Union Education Minister Pradhan. Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge said, “There will be no discussion on this issue until the Education Minister resigns…This cannot be a fair discussion until he resigns.”
Meanwhile, opposition MPs protested against the government in the Parliament complex by wearing black clothes. The government accused the opposition of politicizing the students’ ongoing agitation and said it was moving “goalposts”, adding that its doors were “always open” for talks with those leading the protests, people familiar with the matter said.
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July 23, 2026, 07:41:58 IST
CJP protest live: Heavy police deployment continues at Jantar Mantar
CJP protest LIVE: Heavy security has been deployed at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, where the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) is continuing its protest, PTI news agency reported.
A police contingent was deployed in the area to maintain law and order.
July 23, 2026, 07:34:08 IST
CJP protest live: ‘Talked to Wangchuk several times, the conclusion was that the protest should remain peaceful,’ says Saurav Das
CJP protest LIVE: CJP spokesperson Saurav Das said he spoke to activist Sonam Wangchuk several times on Wednesday.
Das said, “The conclusion was that this peaceful protest should remain peaceful. He has publicly appealed to all the protesters to maintain peace and conduct this protest properly.” He further said, “In past protests in this country, anti-social elements planted by the ruling regime infiltrate and derail the entire protest, then ultimately the peaceful protestors are blamed, and that should not happen.”
July 23, 2026, 07:27:55 IST
CJP protest live: DMRC says 16 metro stations closed till further instructions
CJP protest LIVE: Delhi Metro Rail Corporation on Thursday said 16 metro stations will remain closed from 7.30 am till further instructions. These include:
1. Lok Kalyan Marg
2. Rajeev Chowk
3. Patel Chowk
4. Ramakrishna Ashram Marg
5. Barakhamba Road
6. Supreme Court
7. Seva Teerth
8. Janpath
9. Mandi House
10. Central Secretariat
11. ITO
12. Delhi Gate
13. Indraprastha
14. Khan Market
15. Jor Bagh
16. Shivaji Stadium
However, DMRC said that interchange facility will be available at Rajiv Chowk, Mandi House and Central Secretariat.
July 23, 2026, 07:17:22 IST
CJP protest live: CJP spokesperson said, JP Nadda should be ‘ashamed’.
CJP protest live: CJP spokesperson Saurav Das said, “Shame on you”, referring to Union Minister JP Nadda’s press conference on Thursday.
“People have been sitting here for more than 30 days…,” Das said. Das said, “He is a man of politics… There can be no compromise on Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation… Without this, the protest will continue. It will continue as long as it has to.”
