A man holds a poster while taking part in a demonstration organized to show solidarity with the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) protest held at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi.
CJP’s protest today live updates: Activist Sonam Wangchuk on Friday hit back at critics who questioned her decision to end her 26-day hunger strike, asking why she needed a “character certificate” for her commitment to the students’ movement. His comments came as the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) held the second round of talks with the Centre, which has reportedly given written assurances on some of the key demands of the protesters.
Despite Wangchuk ending his indefinite fast shortly after midnight on Thursday, the atmosphere at Jantar Mantar remained heated. A large crowd gathered at the protest site, with people waiting in long queues for 50 to 100 minutes at the Janpath metro station on Tolstoy Marg. As HT had earlier reported, delegations of lawyers, farmer unions, NGOs and groups from neighboring states arrived with banners and placards in support of the movement throughout the day.
Meanwhile, 18 metro stations in Delhi will remain closed on Saturday as authorities tightened security amid the ongoing protests.
Wangchuk responds to criticism
In a video message shared on social media, Wangchuk rejected allegations that he had compromised with the government by ending his fast.
“After 26 days of fasting for students, after losing 11 kg of weight, which has also reduced my muscles and my organs and brain on the verge of irreversible damage, and coming from the biting cold of Ladakh and doing all this in the scorching heat of Delhi, do I have to take a character certificate from anyone about how sacred my fast was, at whose hands I broke it, or whether I made a deal or not? … Shame on a country that produces such minds, from where such hateful thoughts spring.”
The academician and activist reiterated that no agreement has been reached with the government. He said his biggest concern during the talks was to ensure that students participating in the protests were protected from violence and legal action.
He also explained why he did not insist on the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan during the talks, saying that stopping the cases against the protesters was the immediate priority. Wangchuk said he was confident that Pradhan would eventually resign.
Why did Wangchuk end his 26-day hunger strike?
Wangchuk said he agreed to end the fast only after the Center gave a written assurance as he feared imminent action against the protesters.
He said, “Last night around midnight I was told that the minister had agreed to give an assurance in writing. I was in a hurry because the situation in Delhi was such; there was apprehension that major action could be taken. I was watching the reports and I was reminded of September 24, 2025, when police and CRPF personnel had brutally fired on the youth of Ladakh. I was afraid that something similar could happen here too. I felt that if I ended my fast, And if we appeal for peace, the situation may worsen.”
The workers were on an indefinite hunger strike since June 28 after joining the CJP-led agitation demanding alleged irregularities in competitive examinations, reforms in the education system and resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
CJP says government responded positively
After the second round of discussions with Union ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh, CJP leaders said the Center has shown “significant in-principle consensus” on several demands, while further talks will continue, news agency ANI reported.
CJP chief spokesperson Saurav Das said the party placed four major demands before the government, including compensation for families of students who allegedly committed suicide due to the examination system and withdrawal of FIRs against peaceful protesters.
According to CJP, Nadda told the delegation that another round of discussions would be held.
Why are people protesting at Jantar Mantar?
The protests led by the Cockroach Janata Party are focused on allegations of irregularities in the NEET exam, demands for reforms in the examination system, accountability over alleged paper leaks and the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
Major demands of CJP
– Resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
– ₹Compensation of Rs 1 crore for the families of NEET aspirants who died by suicide.
– No prosecution of peaceful protesters.
– Prosecution of police officers allegedly involved in excesses against protesters.
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Despite Wangchuk ending his indefinite fast shortly after midnight on Thursday, the atmosphere at Jantar Mantar remained heated. A large crowd gathered at the protest site, with people waiting in long queues for 50 to 100 minutes at the Janpath metro station on Tolstoy Marg. As HT had earlier reported, delegations of lawyers, farmer unions, NGOs and groups from neighboring states arrived with banners and placards in support of the movement throughout the day.
Meanwhile, 18 metro stations in Delhi will remain closed on Saturday as authorities tightened security amid the ongoing protests.
Wangchuk responds to criticism
In a video message shared on social media, Wangchuk rejected allegations that he had compromised with the government by ending his fast.
“After 26 days of fasting for students, my body weight reduced by 11 kg, which also reduced my muscles and my organs and brain were on the verge of irreversible damage, and after coming from the biting cold of Ladakh to the scorching heat of Delhi, after doing all this, will I have to ask for a character certificate from anyone as to how holy my fast was, at whose hands I broke it, or whether I made any deal or No?… Shame on the country that produces such minds, from where such disgusting thoughts spring.”
The academician and activist reiterated that no agreement has been reached with the government. He said his biggest concern during the talks was to ensure that students participating in the protests were protected from violence and legal action.
He also explained why he did not insist on the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan during the talks, saying that stopping the cases against the protesters was the immediate priority. Wangchuk said he was confident that Pradhan would eventually resign.
Why did Wangchuk end his 26-day hunger strike?
Wangchuk said he agreed to end the fast only after the Center gave a written assurance as he feared imminent action against the protesters.
He said, “Last night around midnight I was told that the minister had agreed to give an assurance in writing. I was in a hurry because the situation in Delhi was such; there was apprehension that major action could be taken. I was watching the reports and I was reminded of September 24, 2025, when police and CRPF personnel had brutally fired on the youth of Ladakh. I was afraid that something similar could happen here too. I felt that if I ended my fast, And if we appeal for peace, the situation may worsen.”
The workers were on an indefinite hunger strike since June 28 after joining the CJP-led agitation demanding alleged irregularities in competitive examinations, reforms in the education system and resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
CJP says government responded positively
After the second round of discussions with Union ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh, CJP leaders said the Center has shown “significant in-principle consensus” on several demands, while further talks will continue, news agency ANI reported.
CJP chief spokesperson Saurav Das said the party placed four major demands before the government, including compensation for families of students who allegedly committed suicide due to the examination system and withdrawal of FIRs against peaceful protesters.
According to CJP, Nadda told the delegation that another round of discussions would be held.
Why are people protesting at Jantar Mantar?
The protests led by the Cockroach Janata Party focused on allegations of irregularities in the NEET exam, demanding reforms in the exam system, accountability over alleged paper leaks and the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
Major demands of CJP
– Resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
– ₹Compensation of Rs 1 crore for the families of NEET aspirants who died by suicide.
– No prosecution of peaceful protesters.
– Prosecution of police officers allegedly involved in excesses against protesters.
Follow all updates here:
July 25, 2026, 07:38:53 IST
CJP protest update today: CJP says sacking NTA officials is not enough
CJP protest update today: Reacting to the Centre’s decision to sack 47 NTA officials, Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) national spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka said the move alone was not enough.
Ranka told ANI, “We have to look into many details, but we are talking about the same thing again. The ultimate accountability lies with the education minister, because he is directly responsible for all the paper leaks and students committing suicide after the NEET paper leak. He has to resign.”
July 25, 2026, 07:36:43 IST
CJP protest update today: CJP warns of strong protest if Pradhan does not resign
CJP protest update today: After the meeting with the Centre, Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) national spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka said the government has responded positively on compensation and legal issues with an in-principle agreement. However, he said there was still no concrete decision on the party’s key demand – the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
Ranka told news agency ANI, “If Pradhan does not resign, let us know; then there is no point in such a meeting. We will work on our future strategy… If the government continues like this, we will be forced to take a tough stand.”
July 25, 2026, 07:34:13 IST
CJP protest update today: List of 18 metro stations closed on July 25
CJP protest updates today: Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has announced that some metro stations will remain closed from 7:30 am today, July 25, 2026, until further instructions. However, according to DMRC, interchange facilities will be available at Rajiv Chowk, Mandi House and Central Secretariat.
Here is the list-
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
17. Jhandewalaan
18. New Delhi
DMRC also said that train services on the Airport Express Line will run only between Dhaula Kuan and Yashobhoomi Dwarka Sector 25.
July 25, 2026, 07:28:09 IST
CJP protest updates today: Wangchuk says ‘treated like a prisoner’ at Safdarjung hospital
CJP protest updates today: In a video released late Friday night, Sonam Wangchuk alleged that after she was shifted to Safdarjung Hospital on July 18, she was treated “like a prisoner”. He claimed that he was not allowed to move around freely, meet visitors or have his own mobile phone and laptop.
“It was like being in North Korea,” he said.
He further alleged that despite the Delhi High Court allowing him to be shifted to Medanta Hospital, the authorities delayed his discharge from Safdarjung Hospital by several hours.
According to Wangchuk, Union ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh later met him at Medanta Hospital and agreed to positively consider compensation for the families of students who died by suicide after the alleged NEET paper leak, as well as discussions in Parliament on reforms in the accountability and examination system.
However, he said he would not end his hunger strike until the government assured him in writing that peaceful protesters would not face legal action.
