CJP protest highlights: Sonam Wangchuk ends hunger strike after 26 days with Nadda, Jitendra Singh by his side

CJP protest LIVE: New Delhi Traders Association (NDTA) has advised all shops, offices and restaurants in Connaught Place to close operations by 6:30 pm on Thursday amid heightened security in the area.

The advisory comes as security arrangements have been tightened in central Delhi following protests and incidents of violence near Jantar Mantar.

- via Paras Singh

CJP protest LIVE: Reacting to the ongoing Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday defended the Centre's handling of the paper leak controversy, saying the government had taken timely action.

Sitharaman said the authorities ensured arrests were made promptly, conducted the re-examination on time and declared the results without delay so that students could proceed with admissions to higher education institutions.

She also said several students had overcome the setback caused by the paper leak. “There are young people who are coming out and saying yes, first it sort of hurt me when the paper leakages happened but later I took advantage of that and prepared even more and my performance has improved and I've done well,” she told news agency ANI.

“With all this, the government is responding, PM is responding,” Sitharaman added, referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent announcement on fast-track courts and stricter punishment for those involved in paper leak cases.

CJP protest LIVE: Kerala members of the Student Federation of India (SFI) on Thursday marched to Lok Bhavan, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the paper leak controversy.

The student organisation also called on the Centre to accept its charter of demands, as protests over alleged irregularities in competitive examinations continue across the country.

CJP protest LIVE: Union minister Jitendra Singh on Thursday said the government had made multiple attempts to engage with the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and urged its leaders to return to the negotiating table.

“The government tried talking to the CJP four times. We can move towards a solution only through discussion,” Singh said.

He added that the government was open to holding talks at any mutually agreed venue. “Wherever you want, we can discuss—either at Nadda ji's house or office. I again request them to come for discussions and let us find a solution,” he said.

Earlier, CJP spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka told HT: "The government has reached out to us to talk - through DCP New Delhi. But venue is being discussed as it has to take place at a neutral place.”

CJP protest LIVE: Heavy gathering of Police personnel at residence of Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan at Kushak Road in New Delhi on Thursday.

CJP protest LIVE: Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka, while talking to Hindustan Times, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi's announcement on paper leak cases fails to address the root cause of the issue.

“PM Narendra Modi's tweet is only suggestive of treating the symptoms, not the cause. If the government doesn't budge, we will not either,” Ranka said.

He claimed the mood among protesters had shifted beyond the demand for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. “The time is running out for this government. If you hear the slogans at the protestors, they are no longer limited to the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan, they are asking for Modi's resignation. They should understand the sentiments of the people,” he said.

On whether talks with the Centre had reached a deadlock, Ranka said the CJP's position remained unchanged. “There is no deadlock because our demand is clear - resignation of Pradhan. The government can come and tell us that it will not happen, then we'll let the people of this country decide,” he said.

Ranka also told HT that the government had reached out for talks through the Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi), adding that the venue was still being discussed. “The venue is being discussed as it has to take place at a neutral place,” he said.

CJP protest LIVE: A 21-year-old woman who sustained critical injuries during the alleged protest-related violence near Jantar Mantar is showing signs of improvement, according to a statement issued by RML Hospital.

The hospital said the patient was successfully taken off the ventilator 24 hours ago and is now breathing on her own. She is conscious and responding appropriately to commands, news agency PTI reported.

Doctors said her condition is currently stable, but she continues to receive comprehensive critical care under the close supervision of a multidisciplinary medical team.

CJP protest LIVE: Delhi Police on Thursday urged the public not to link the routine renewal of powers under the National Security Act (NSA) with the ongoing Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protests.

In a statement, police said, “A routine quarterly renewal of powers under the National Security Act (NSA) has been falsely linked to the ongoing CJP protests.”

"The renewal predates the protests and is part of the standard administrative process.

Citizens are advised to rely only on official information and avoid sharing misinformation."

CJP protest LIVE: AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi on Thursday criticised the Centre over its handling of the ongoing paper leak protests, referring to the Cockroach Janta Party's (CJP) claim that its representatives were made to wait for hours after being invited to Union health minister JP Nadda's residence.

“You call young children and make them sit at home for two hours. You don't talk to them, you humiliate them. You should learn to talk to them,” Owaisi told news agency ANI

He also accused the government of refusing to acknowledge its mistakes. “Everything is happening because of you, the government. Why are you blaming the opposition for what is happening? You should admit to whatever mistakes you have made. You're not even admitting it,” he said.

Owaisi further alleged that the government was relying on its parliamentary majority to suppress dissent. “You think we have a brute majority and you will suppress us all. You won't be able to. You're underestimating this,” he added.

CJP protest LIVE: Congress MP Deepender Singh Hooda on Thursday criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's announcement on fast-track courts for paper leak cases, calling the response "disappointing".

Questioning the government's promise of speedy justice, Hooda said, “The PM's statement is disappointing. Will the fast-track courts operate at the same speed as the bullet train in the last 12 years?” reported ANI.

CJP protest LIVE: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's announcement on setting up fast-track courts for paper leak cases, saying it does not address the protesters' core demands.

Responding to Modi's post on X, Kejriwal said, “Just now, the Prime Minister posted on ‘X’ that fast-track courts will be set up to punish those involved in paper leak cases. But, Prime Minister, the students did not even ask for this. This was never their demand.”

He argued that India already has fast-track courts for several categories of cases, but justice is often delayed. “There are already many fast-track courts in this country. They exist for rape cases, POCSO cases, and several other matters. Yet justice is often delayed. In some cases, fast-track courts take even longer than the normal judicial process,” he said.

“It seems that you are still trying to protect the Education Minister. You did not even address the students' demand for the resignation of the Education Minister,” he said.

CJP protest LIVE: Raj Thackeray on Thursday warned that anyone attempting to disrupt the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena's July 26 protest would be dealt with firmly.

“If any goons infiltrate the protest on 26th July, we will beat them up, just like we did in Delhi. Such people should stay away from my protest,” Thackeray said.

He alleged that the government had delayed engaging with protesters and claimed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent remarks on the paper leak issue reflected growing pressure. “The government should have initiated the discussion on this. Today, the protests have increased, so the government is scared. Today, the Prime Minister is scared; that's why he's tweeting,” he said.

CJP protest LIVE: The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has announced that Jhandewalan Metro station has been closed until further instructions.

CJP protest LIVE: Delhi Police on Thursday rejected social media claims that the Commissioner of Police was granted detention powers under the National Security Act (NSA) to suppress the ongoing Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protests.

In a clarification, the police said the order is a routine quarterly extension of powers under the NSA that is renewed every three months.

According to the statement, the renewal order was issued on July 7 and is effective from July 19 to October 18, 2026, predating the commencement of the CJP protests.

Police further said no special request was made in connection with the recent protests and described the order as a standard administrative procedure that had been “misinterpreted out of context.”

CJP protest LIVE: Fresh visuals from Jantar Mantar show a confrontation between Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protesters and a group of Nihang Sikhs amid the ongoing agitation over alleged paper leaks.

CJP protest LIVE: India’s first individual Olympic gold medallist Abhinav Bindra on Thursday called for an education system that “inspires confidence” amid ongoing protests over alleged irregularities in the NEET examination.

“The measure of a nation is found not only in its economy or its achievements, but in the opportunities it creates for its young people. An education system that inspires confidence, rewards merit and nurtures curiosity is one of a nation’s greatest strengths,” he wrote.

“I hope we can all unite and work together to continually strengthen our education system, so that it remains a source of opportunity, innovation and hope for generations to come," he added.

CJP protest LIVE: CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke shared a post saying, ‘My name is Nothing’ after Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his first reaction to paper leak protests said, "Nothing is more important than the welfare and future of our youth!"

NEET irregularities protest LIVE: Proceedings in the Rajya Sabha were adjourned till 2 pm on Thursday as Opposition members continued to press for the resignation of Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan before any discussion on the NEET paper leak issue.

CJP protest LIVE: Details of the injuries suffered by Delhi Police personnel during the alleged stone-pelting near Jantar Mantar have emerged, with senior officers reporting head wounds, bruises and other injuries.

According to a statement from RML Hospital, ACP Connaught Place Vivek Bhagat sustained multiple bruises on both his upper and lower limbs, as well as his shoulder. Doctors also found swelling in the parieto-occipital region, located at the back of his head, reported ANI.

ACP (Punjabi Bagh) Jai Prakash suffered an injury to his forehead while on duty near Jantar Mantar. Recounting the incident, he said he was hurt when police tried to stop protesters from marching towards Parliament. “One of the stones hit him,” he said.

Inspector Nand Kishore and several other police personnel also sustained injuries in the alleged stone-pelting incident.

The injuries were reported after clashes and stone-pelting broke out in the Connaught Place-Jantar Mantar area, where the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has been holding protests over alleged national paper leaks. Delhi Police have registered a case and launched an investigation into the incident.

CJP protest LIVE: Chief Justice of India Surya Kant on Thursday said the Supreme Court may step in if authorities fail to resolve the difficulties caused by the closure of Delhi Metro stations, particularly the Supreme Court Metro station.

The CJI's remarks came after Supreme Court Bar Association president and senior advocate Vikas Singh raised the issue before a bench led by him at the start of the day's proceedings.

“We have instructed the authorities and solutions are being explored. If no solution comes up by the lunchtime, we will intervene otherwise,” the CJI said.

He added that administrative directions had already been issued to the authorities and expressed hope that a solution would be found soon. The court indicated that it could take up the matter on the judicial side if the situation remains unresolved. Read More

CJP protest LIVE: Karnataka minister Priyank Kharge on Thursday alleged that the Centre and the BJP were trying to prevent videos of the police action against protesting students from being seen on social media.

In a post on X, Kharge claimed, “A little bird in Delhi tells me the Government and the BJP are moving heaven and earth to impose a complete social media blackout, arm twisting platforms to delete content.”

He further alleged that the move was aimed at stopping the public from viewing visuals of the alleged police brutality against students participating in the protests.

“They may try to suppress the footage, but they cannot suppress the truth,” Kharge added.

CJP protest LIVE: Delhi Police have registered a case in connection with the alleged violence and stone-pelting in the Connaught Place area that left senior police officers injured.

According to police, Assistant Commissioner of Police (Punjabi Bagh) Jai Prakash and ACP Connaught Place Vivek Bhagat were among those hurt during the incident.

The FIR comes after reports of stone-pelting emerged from areas near Jantar Mantar, where the Cockroach Janta Party's (CJP) protest over alleged national paper leaks continues under heavy security deployment.

Police said Inspector Nand Kishore and several other personnel also sustained injuries in the violence. An investigation into the incident is underway.

CJP protest LIVE: Delhi Police inspector alleges assault by mob near Jantar Mantar, says he was attacked on way to duty

A Delhi Police inspector was injured after being allegedly attacked by a crowd near Jantar Mantar while on his way to night duty, officials said.

Inspector Nand Kishor Singh, who sustained injuries in the incident, claimed he was walking towards his office after parking his motorcycle near Hanuman Temple when he encountered a large gathering near the Parliament Street junction.

“I had my night duty yesterday. I parked my bike at Hanuman Temple and was walking towards Jantar Mantar. There was a huge crowd everywhere,” Singh told news agency PTI.

He alleged that a group of 100-150 people attacked him as he made his way through the area. “As I tried to get out of there, they assaulted me with lathis, sticks, stones, and whatever sharp objects they had in their hands. I sustained injuries and somehow managed to escape from the spot,” he said.

CJP protest LIVE: Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and other INDIA bloc leaders on Thursday joined a protest at Makar Dwar inside the Parliament premises.

The demonstration comes amid continued opposition attacks on the government over the NEET paper leak controversy and other issues raised during the Monsoon Session.

CJP protest LIVE: CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke on Thursday said he would not be present at the Jantar Mantar protest during the day as he was recovering from fever and severe body pain.

On X, he wrote, "I’ve been down with a fever and severe body pain for the last few days, but I’ve been pushing through with painkillers. My apologies if you don’t see me at Jantar Mantar today. I need to get a few hours of rest and recover. Will be back at the protest site by evening."