The Cockroach Janta Party's indefinite protest entered its 35th day on Friday at Delhi's Jantar Mantar, with demonstrators vowing to continue their agitation amid heightened security despite activist Sonam Wangchuk ending his 26-day hunger strike. The group has been leading peaceful protest over alleged examination irregularities, including the NEET paper leak, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and greater accountability in the examination system. The agitation escalated after police resorted to a lathi charge and used tear gas to disperse protesters marching towards Parliament during the "Sansad Chalo" march.
Top developments
Activist Sonam Wangchuk has ended his 26-day hunger strike after assurances that students' concerns would be raised in Parliament.
CJP welcomed Wangchuk's decision but said its peaceful protest at Jantar Mantar will continue until Pradhan resigns.
The Centre and the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) are set to hold talks at the Constitution Club of India on Friday after both sides agreed on a "neutral" venue.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced fast-track courts for paper leak cases, promising swift action against those responsible.
The Opposition has intensified its attack on the Centre, alleging excessive police action against protesters.
The Delhi High Court is hearing a PIL seeking a probe into the CJP-led protest and related incidents.
The Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday (July 24, 2026), said in a post on X addressing PM Modi, “Before coming to Parliament today, come after dismissing Dharmendra Pradhan.
First, apologise to the students and take strict action against those who ordered the use of lathis, batons, and Pellet Guns to suppress the students’ voices. Then we are ready for a detailed Discussion on the education system.”
TMC MP Mahua Moitra welcomed Sonam Wangchuk's decision to end his hunger strike. She wrote on X, “very glad you have ended fast. Please rest & take care of your health. Also please ensure govt does not use your voice as a tool now to try & break agitation. Thank you."
A CJP delegation is scheduled to meet Union ministers at 12.30 pm today to discuss the students' issue.
The Centre's proposed talks with representatives of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) will be held at the Constitution Club of India after the government agreed to the group's demand for a neutral venue, CJP chief spokesperson Saurav Das said on Friday.
Speaking to ANI, Das welcomed the government's decision, saying the discussions had been called after both sides agreed on the venue.
"A discussion has been called for. We are very happy that the government has agreed to our request that it be at a neutral venue. The Constitution Club of India has been chosen," Das said.
Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Friday said students have demanded accountability and educational reforms, but the Modi government has responded to their courage with "cowardice and wanton cruelty, treating them not as inheritors of the future but as enemies of the nation".
She accused the government of degrading India's education landscape and asserted that the country's students have called the Modi regime's bluff.
She emphasised it is a moral, political, and constitutional duty to stand with students and safeguard their future.
DMRC has closed 17 stations from 07:30 am on Friday (July 24, 2026) until further notice due to heightened security concerns amid the ongoing protests at Jantar Mantar.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday late night announced that the government is going to take more strict actions against paper leaks in the meeting of the Union Cabinet to be held on Friday.
In a video message in Hindi, Modi said, “More strict actions against paper leaks will come in tomorrow’s cabinet.”
He said the government has taken a decision to constitute a fast-track court and directed the departments to work on constituting it and also other strict measures.
“The departments have informed me late night that the draft proposal in this regard with provision of strict punishment is ready and the same will be taken up during the meeting of the Union cabinet. After discussing the matter with my cabinet colleagues, we will take a final decision.”
The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on Friday said it was "relieved and grateful" that activist Sonam Wangchuk had ended his 26-day hunger strike, but asserted that its peaceful protest at Jantar Mantar would continue until Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigns.
In a post on X, CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke thanked Wangchuk for his "extraordinary courage and sacrifice".
"We are relieved and grateful that Sonam sir has ended his hunger strike after 26 days. Thank you, sir, for your extraordinary courage and sacrifice. By putting your own life on the line, you awakened the conscience of an entire nation. Your life is far too precious to this country," Dipke said.
"The Cockroach Janta Party's peaceful protest at Jantar Mantar will continue until Dharmendra Pradhan resigns," he added.
Activist Sonam Wangchuk ended his indefinite hunger strike after the Centre assured him that his demands would be addressed.
He called off the fast after Union Ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh met him at Medanta Hospital in Gurugram around midnight on Thursday and conveyed the government's assurances.
"Just now in the presence of Union Ministers JP Nadda, Dr Jitendra Singh and the senior leaders of Apex Body of Leh Ladakh, I finally broke my fast after 26 days," Wangchuk said in a post on X.
CJP spokesperson Saurav Das that Delhi Police detained three youths at Nizamuddin Police Station for allegedly carrying food to Jantar Mantar.
Das also alleged that several youngsters had been detained without reason and criticised the police crackdown in central Delhi. “Stop terrorising young kids RIGHT NOW!” he wrote on X.
Before breaking his hunger strike, Sonam Wangchuk appealed for peace, urging protesters not to resort to violence despite reports of unrest elsewhere.
In a post on X, Wangchuk wrote, "PEACE & ONLY PEACE IS MY WAY." He said that while the protest at Jantar Mantar remained peaceful, he was "pained to learn that elsewhere some antisocial elements are taking advantage of the peaceful protests to provoke violence."
"No matter what the other side does our response must only be flowers. Please keep this tradition at all costs," he added.