CJP protest highlights: 18 metro stations to remain shut today, Sonam Wangchuk rejects 'deal' allegations

Farm union leaders like Gurnam Singh Chaduni and their delegation have reached the protest venue to express solidarity.

Amidst scorching heat, high humidity, and overcrowding, the risk of infectious diseases is looming over the Jantar Mantar protest site, with many protesters complaining of headaches and sore throats.

Volunteer doctors present at the site report that the overcrowding and open-air living conditions have left a large number of people grappling with viral infections, dehydration, and other health issues, compounding the difficulties for protesters.

Speaking to PTI, Dr Shilpa from Punjab's 'Five River Heart Association' said a large number of people are approaching her with complaints of sore throats, headaches and high fever.

Many are sleeping on the ground in the open, increasing the risk of infection, said Shilpa, who is providing free medical care to protesters at Jantar Mantar.

She said that by Wednesday evening, over 200 people had been administered paracetamol and other related medications.

"A large number of elderly people are coming for treatment related to diabetes and hypertension. Essential medicines are being provided to those who could not bring their own or lost them in the crowd," she said.

Noting that many are not consuming adequate food, leading to deteriorating health and complaints of nausea, vomiting, and dehydration, the doctor added that food and ORS are being provided to such individuals at the protest site.

Another doctor from Punjab's Patiala, requesting anonymity, said due to the large crowds, the infection is spreading through coughing and sneezing.

In addition to viral infections, the doctor mentioned that people are also arriving with complaints of coughs, sprained ankles, and minor injuries.

When asked about many allegations of foreign funding behind the Cockroach Janata Party protests, including the hand of Pakistan, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson said," I have no information to share on this issue with you".

The Centre has directed the airlifting of 10 more CRPF companies from Chhattisgarh to deploy in Delhi to bolster security measures in view of the student protest underway, officials said on Friday.

Thousands of students and activists have been protesting in the national capital for over a month for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET fiasco.

The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has also restricted leave for its Delhi Metro security unit due to the protests.

Officials told PTI that a security review meeting held here on Thursday required all Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) units scheduled to be stationed in the national capital ahead of Independence Day to report early.

Bombay High Court has designated two special courts in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and Nagpur districts to hear cases of exam malpractices, PTI reported.

Clashes broke out between members of the Left students' organisations and police personnel during a protest in central Kolkata on Friday over the NEET paper leak, prompting security forces to baton-charge and fire tear gas shells to disperse the agitators, a senior officer said.

The protestors blocked the Dorina Crossing area in the Esplanade, hurled footwear and water bottles at the men in uniform.

The police were seen struggling to remove the agitators from the intersection of vital thoroughfares on a working day.

Till reports last received, the police had not managed to disperse the crowd from the region despite resorting to a mild lathi charge and even firing some tear gas shells.

CJP has said its demand remains clear.

“Dharmendra Pradhan must resign!” it said.

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on Friday announced that it would launch a dedicated website to gather photographs and videos from protesters to identify police personnel allegedly involved in the July 20 crackdown during the 'Sansad Chalo' march, saying it would seek FIRs against the officers and move court.

Addressing a press conference here, CJP spokesperson Saurav Das alleged that police personnel assaulted students and molested women protesters during the police action.

"As we announced earlier, every officer who attacked students, injured them and molested young girls has been warned. We will not remain quiet. We will remember everything," Das asserted.

He appealed to protesters to upload photographs and videos of police personnel allegedly involved in the crackdown.

"We are launching a website and urge all protesters to upload any videos or photographs they have of the police officials who attacked them. The CJP team will scrutinise the material and identify every police officer. There should be FIRs against them," he said.

Das said that if the Delhi Police did not register FIRs against the identified officers, the party would approach the courts.

"Lawyers from across India are helping us. We will obtain court orders directing that FIRs be registered against the police personnel. When the time comes, we will ensure that all of them go to jail. This is our promise," he said.

DMRC said in an update that the entry gates for Mandi House and Central Secretariat metro stations are now open.

The Supreme Court on Friday agreed to hear on July 27 petitions alleging excessive police action against students who participated in protests at Jantar Mantar and other places across the country over examination paper leaks.

The matter was mentioned before a bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana by senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, saying two petitions concerning the alleged violence against protesters have been filed.

Sankaranarayanan submitted that the petitions related to incidents of alleged police violence during student protests and involve multiple states as parties.

He said the petitions had not been mentioned earlier because they were awaiting diary numbers.

Stressing the urgency of the issue, he told the bench that reports of police excesses against students were continuing and called for immediate judicial intervention.

"The police is using excessive force against children. It is continuing unabated. Some controls are necessary. The Court stands between us and the police," he submitted.

Taking note of the submissions, the CJI agreed to entertain the petitions and directed that they be listed for hearing on Monday.

"Let it be listed; we will entertain," said the CJI.

Advocates practising at the Aurangabad bench of the Bombay High Court on Friday staged a protest here to denounce the Delhi Police crackdown on student march towards Parliament earlier this week.

The protest by members of the Advocates Association was held at Kranti Chowk in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar city (formerly Aurangabad) of central Maharashtra.

The advocates extended their support to the ongoing agitation of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and shouted slogans backing the stir launched late last month.

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Friday slammed the government as he alleged the use of pellet guns on the student protesters in Delhi.

In an attempt to back his claim, Gandhi brought before the public a student who reportedly suffered injuries to his eye.

While speaking to the media on Friday, Rahul said that the pellet guns had been used while the student was protesting, holding the Indian Tricolour, and claimed the youth who was allegedly hit had lost vision in one eye.

“You're saying pellet guns were used. But I want to explain when the pellet gun was used? The pellet gun was used when my brother was holding the Indian tricolour. He was protesting peacefully with the Indian Tricolour. The government has said no pellet gun has been used. Haven't they said it? See this, this is a pellet gun… his eye has been damaged, he has lost his vision,” Rahul said, while showing the wounds on the youth's body.

Former West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee to join the CJP-led protests on Monday

Speaking at Shiv Sena's Tiranga Rally, Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray says, "Will you be friends with those who got your examination papers leaked? Will you accept being beaten with batons, subjected to tear gas, and seeing your Constitution being disrespected? Will you accept people who resort to religious politics whenever they are held accountable and who flee the country in times of need? Will you remain silent until Dharmendra Pradhan resigns?"

Already facing intense criticism over a police driver threatening student agitators with fake drug cases, the Mumbai Police found itself under fire again on Friday after a viral video showed a plainclothes officer allegedly handling a female protester inappropriately during a demonstration against NEET paper leak.

While Opposition leaders and netizens demanded strict action against the officer, dressed in civil, for allegedly outraging the modesty of a woman, the police rejected the allegations, saying the video was being "irresponsibly misinterpreted".

Clarifying the incident in a post on X, the Mumbai Police said the officer was attempting to restrain a male protester and looking away when a female demonstrator accidentally stepped in between.

"As a renowned individual, it is expected of you to verify the facts before drawing any conclusions based on a video. The senior officers have confirmed all the facts," the city police posted.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations) Akbar Pathan also said that senior officers had minutely assessed the video footage.

"The official was trying to hold on to a male protester, and a lady stepped in while he was looking away. Senior officers have verified all the facts and minutely assessed the video to ascertain the facts," Pathan said. No case has been registered so far.

The incident occurred during demonstrations at Shivaji Park in Dadar, where students and activists had gathered to demand the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged NEET examination irregularities, before being dispersed by police.

The Union Cabinet on Friday approved amendments to the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, amid continuing nationwide protests over the NEET examination paper leak.

The proposed amendment Bill is likely to be taken up for consideration and passage in Parliament on Monday (July 27).

The decision comes amid sustained protests by students and opposition parties demanding accountability, a comprehensive investigation into the paper leak, and stronger safeguards to protect the integrity of public examinations.

The Abhijeet Dipke-led ‘Cockroach Janta Party’ (CJP), which has managed to get the government to hold a meeting with it twice on its demands amid the massive Jantar Mantar protest over exam irregularities, said on Friday that the Centre has sought time till Saturday afternoon to deliberate on its key ask for education minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation. Read the full story here.

The "violence" against female students during the protests in New Delhi shows how hollow the BJP-led Union government's 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao' slogan is, claimed Congress leader Shobha Oza here on Friday.

These students were not only injured but also subjected to all manner of brutal acts, molestation, obscenity, and verbal abuse, Oza, former All India Women Congress president, told reporters.

"The terrifying scenes clearly demonstrate how hollow the slogan 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao' is for the ruling BJP," she said while alleging that the brutality of the police force has crossed all limits during the ongoing student protests in Delhi.

The students were hit on the face, legs, etc., she said. Such barbarity was witnessed for the first time in history, Oza added.

Oza said the Narendra Modi government, "stunned by the large number of protesters who had gathered at Jantar Mantar to demonstrate peacefully", vented its anger on the protest leaders instead of accepting the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

Instead of identifying and punishing the police officers responsible for this heinous incident, the government removed their nameplates to conceal their identities, allowing them to freely do as they pleased without anyone recognising them, the Congress leader further alleged.

Four facial recognition system (FRS) units have been installed around the protest site at Jantar Mantar to identify wanted criminals, absconders and history sheeters, police sources said on Friday.

The surveillance system is not for ordinary protesters but is meant to identify those with criminal antecedents who may try to "infiltrate the protest" and disturb law and order, they said.

The FRS units have been positioned at key entry and exit points around the protest venue and are directly linked to the Delhi Police database.

The system will be monitored in real time by the officers, enabling them to instantly verify the identity of any wanted criminal, bad character or a history sheeter, the sources said.

"The objective is to ensure that people with criminal backgrounds do not exploit the protest to create law and order issues. The system is connected with the Delhi Police database and can identify wanted criminals, absconders, historysheeters and Bad Characters (BCs) whose details already exist in police records," said the police source.

According to the officer, the FRS does not target ordinary protesters but is meant to identify those with criminal antecedents who may attempt to take advantage of large gatherings.

Videos surfaced on social media on Friday showing a man asserting he resigned from the Delhi Police as a constable in support of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest at Jantar Mantar, a claim authorities rejected.

The Directorate General Home Guards, Delhi government, said in an X post that the individual posting reels/videos on Instagram as Ravi Lovey has been identified as Ravi Kumar.

"He is not a Delhi Police constable and has no association with the Delhi Police," the directorate said.

In a viral video, the individual claimed that he is a Delhi Police jawan holding a good position.

"The day I got to know that the protest would take place, I went on medical leave. I got a call again that my leave was finished. I want to extend my medical leave. The Delhi Police denied extending my medical leave," he can be heard saying.

He alleged that the police force "pressurised him" to join the force and he resigned.

"Quarter nahi chahiye, sarkari gadi nahi chahiye, sarkari salary nahi chahiye" (I don't want a quarter, government vehicle or government's salary)," he said.

According to the DG Home Guards, Ravi Kumar was serving as a volunteer with the Delhi Home Guards, which functions under the Directorate General of Home Guards, a separate organisation from the Delhi Police.

"In view of his misconduct, he has been discharged from the Delhi Home Guards with immediate effect," it said.

Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) on Friday advised students, faculty and staff to refrain from participating in or visiting gatherings at or around Jantar Mantar, urging them to prioritise their personal safety and exercise responsibility on social media amid the ongoing protests.

In an advisory posted on the university's official X handle, the university said all stakeholders of JNU's "epistemic community" should act responsibly and avoid visiting demonstration sites around Jantar Mantar in accordance with the Supreme Court's directions on public demonstrations.

"All stakeholders of JNU's epistemic community are advised to act responsibly and prioritise their personal safety. In accordance with the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India's directions on public demonstrations, you are requested to refrain from participating in or visiting gatherings at or around Jantar Mantar, New Delhi," the post read.

The university also cautioned students and staff to exercise responsibility while using social media, warning that violations could invite legal consequences under applicable laws as well as disciplinary action under the university's code of conduct.

"You are also encouraged to uphold the values of academic responsibility and responsible citizenship," it added.

Left students' organisations on Friday held a rally in Kolkata, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the alleged NEET paper leak.

The march was held from Sealdah to Esplanade in central Kolkata in solidarity with the nationwide students' movement against the alleged irregularities in the medical entrance test NEET.

With placards in their hands, the protesters raised slogans demanding Pradhan's resignation, the dissolution of the National Testing Agency (NTA) that conducts NEET, and justice for students allegedly subjected to police excesses during the demonstrations in the national capital.

The demonstrators lent their support to the demands raised by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), which has been spearheading protests over the alleged NEET paper leak.

RSS national executive member Indresh Kumar on Friday urged climate activist Sonam Wangchuk to keep his agitation "Indian" after the latter ended his hunger strike, alleging that "foreign forces" had taken over the movement and warning the youth against becoming "agents" of anti-national elements.

Kumar said Wangchuk and the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) were different entities and alleged that the latter was working as an "agency of foreign forces".

"These are separate in nature. Sonam Wangchuk is one person, and the CJP is totally different. Political parties too have different agendas. They have mixed it together to defame everyone's character. That is why Sonam Wangchuk has distanced himself from it.

"I would say that he should understand that his movement has been taken over by foreigners. Therefore, he should keep his movement Indian. He should not become a puppet of foreigners," Kumar told reporters here.

Alleging that the CJP was acting on behalf of foreign interests, he said, "I would tell the young people who come there to be cautious. Do not become the puppets or agents of those who betray the country and deceive the nation."

He cautioned political parties against boosting anti-national activities to play politics. "They should do positive politics."

Union Minister JP Nadda on Friday, after meeting with the representatives of the Cockroach Janta Party in the national capital, said that the government will hold another meeting with the CJP representatives tomorrow after holding internal discussions on the issues that were raised during Friday's meeting.

The Minister said that the CJP has put forward three main demands and five suggestions for examination reforms.

After the meeting with CJP representatives, Nadda told reporters, "The meeting went on for almost two hours. They had three main demands and five reform suggestions for exams. We have told them that we will meet them again tomorrow afternoon and tell them about the discussion we had among the Government."

This is the second meeting of Nadda with Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) Chief Spokesperson Saurav Das and National Spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka in New Delhi. During the meeting today, Union Minister Jitendra Singh was also present.

Delhi high court refuses to consider petition seeking NIA probe into the Cockroach Janata Party’s student protest and the violence that erupted during its “Chalo Sansad” march to the Parliament.

The court said that the NIA Act vests the Central Government with the authority to determine whether a case is a "fit case" for investigation by the National Investigation Agency and in light of this statutory scheme, the court held that it cannot substitute its own satisfaction for that of the Central Government while deciding whether a case should be entrusted to the NIA or any other specialised agency.

“ How can you ask us? For a fit case, there has to be a report, there has to be an FIR, information has to be forwarded by the State to the Centre, and if the Centre finds the matter appropriate, it can send the FIR to the NIA. You’re asking us to form an opinion that this is a fit case. This job under the statute has been entrusted to the Centre. Can the court substitute its satisfaction to the satisfaction of the Central govt? Call is to be taken by them (Centre). Notice cannot be issued on the asking. It is for the Centre to take a call. It can be initiated on a report by the SHO, then FIR and couple with the report by the state to the Centre. We cannot substitute our satisfaction with the satisfaction of the Central government. There is a mechanism available under law and you can take course of the mechanism,” the court said.

The court made these remarks while dealing with a petition filed by on Satish Kumar Aggarwal. Following court’s observations, the petitioner withdrew the petition.