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

CJP protest LIVE: Buses carrying INDIA bloc MPs, including Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, arrived at Gandhi Smriti in Delhi on Thursday.

The leaders reached the memorial together amid the Opposition's ongoing political mobilisation.

CJP protest LIVE: Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leader Abhijeet Dipke was taken to a doctor on Thursday after his fever and cough worsened, NC leader Anish Gawande said.

In a post on X, Gawande said Dipke's blood pressure was normal and that the doctor had prescribed medication along with an injection.

"We are all hoping he will return to Jantar Mantar tonight!" Gawande wrote, referring to the site of the CJP's ongoing protest.

CJP protest LIVE: Pakistan declined to comment on the ongoing Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) protests, saying the issue is India's internal matter.

CJP protest LIVE: Delhi Police on Thursday clarified that the routine quarterly renewal of powers under the National Security Act (NSA) has no connection with the ongoing Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protests, calling reports linking the two "misinformation."

In a post on X, the force said the renewal was part of a standard administrative process and had been initiated before the protests began.

"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," Delhi Police said.

The clarification comes amid speculation on social media that the renewal of NSA powers was related to the protests in the national capital.

CJP protest LIVE: Social activist Anna Hazare said he has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging the Centre to refrain from using force against protesting students, asserting that violence cannot resolve any issue.

Speaking in Maharashtra's Ahilyanagar, Hazare said peaceful dialogue, not force, was the way forward.

"I wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi that no issue can be resolved through the path of non-violence. Violence will not resolve the issue. Violence will only lead to more work," he said.

Referring to his own anti-corruption movements, Hazare said he had observed 22 hunger strikes without resorting to violence.

"I observed 22 hunger strikes but I did not resort to violence. Student youth power is a national power. If you go the wrong way, it will be wrong," he said.

Hazare also demanded the resignation of the education minister over the issue.

"He (Education Minister) should resign," he said.

Emphasising that elected representatives are accountable to the people, Hazare added, "I said that the public is the master, and ministers and officials are all servants. If any work needs to be done, it should be done if the public feels it should be done."

Calling the police action against students unacceptable, he said, "Lathi charge is wrong..."

CJP protest LIVE: A bus carrying Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel arrived outside the Delhi residence of Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Thursday, ahead of a meeting of Opposition MPs convened by him.

Rahul Gandhi has called the meeting at his residence to discuss the evolving situation and the Opposition's strategy.

CJP protest LIVE: Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founding president Abhijeet Dipke on Thursday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to accept Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation, warning that the protests would escalate if the demand was ignored.

Addressing the media in Delhi, Dipke said the agitation would no longer remain limited to seeking Pradhan's resignation if the Centre failed to act.

"Modi ji, I once again request you to accept Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation. Otherwise, the issue will not remain limited to Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation alone; it will come for your resignation also," he said.

Calling Pradhan an "incompetent and failed minister", Dipke said the interests of millions of students should take precedence over protecting a minister.

"An incompetent and failed minister cannot be more important than the crores of students in this country. If a failed and incompetent minister is being considered more important than these crores of students, then remember: no one in India will vote for you in the elections," he added.

CJP protest LIVE: Shweta Sanjiv Bhatt, wife of jailed former IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt, voiced support for students protesting over the alleged NEET paper leak, accusing the government of suppressing dissent instead of addressing their concerns.

"As the wife of a man who dedicated his life to upholding the Constitution, stood for truth without compromise, and continues to pay the price for questioning those in power, I cannot remain silent today," she said.

Calling the NEET paper leak "not merely an examination scandal," Bhatt said it represented "a betrayal of the trust and aspirations of millions of hardworking students."

"The youth of India are not asking for privilege. They are demanding fairness, transparency, and an education system free from corruption," she said.

She alleged that instead of responding with "honesty and accountability," the government had "chosen a path of intimidation and force."

"A democracy does not respond to its young citizens by suppressing their voices. It listens, it answers, and it acts," Bhatt said.

She added that attempts to silence the protesters would only strengthen their resolve.

"Every attempt to silence students only strengthens their resolve. India's future belongs to these young men and women, not to those who fear their questions."

Concluding her statement, she appealed for public support for the protesting students.

"Stand with our students. Stand for justice. Stand for the Constitution."

CJP protest LIVE: Amid the ongoing student protests led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), Union minister J P Nadda on Thursday said the government was ready to hold another round of talks with the protesters and was open to meeting them either at his office or residence.

Nadda's remarks come as the CJP, which has been leading the agitation at Jantar Mantar over the alleged NEET paper leak, announced that the next round of discussions with the Centre should take place either at the protest site or at a neutral venue.

CJP protest LIVE: The internet shutdown order issued to telecom service providers on July 23 was initially extended until 4:30 pm.

Authorities have now extended the suspension further, with internet services set to remain suspended until midnight.

CJP protest LIVE: Trinamool Congress leader and former Rajya Sabha MP Saket Gokhale on Thursday said he had filed a police complaint against Additional DCP Sandeep Lamba over the alleged assault of a woman protester during police action near Jantar Mantar on July 20.

In a post on X, Gokhale said he had submitted the complaint to the Station House Officer (SHO) of Parliament Street police station, seeking the registration of an FIR against Lamba.

He alleged that the officer assaulted a woman protester during the police crackdown on students marching towards Parliament.

According to Gokhale, the complaint invokes several provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including Section 74 (assault or criminal force to a woman with intent to outrage her modesty), Section 115 (voluntarily causing hurt), Section 131 (assault or criminal force otherwise than on grave provocation) and Section 198 (public servant disobeying the law with intent to cause injury), read with Section 3(5).

CJP protest LIVE: Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Thursday criticised the Centre over Prime Minister Narendra Modi's absence from Parliament amid the controversy over the alleged NEET-UG paper leak and the Opposition's demand for Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation.

Speaking to reporters outside Parliament, Priyanka Gandhi questioned why the Prime Minister had not addressed the issue despite the ongoing student protests across the country.

"Such a big agitation is taking place; the youth of the nation is sitting outside, but the Prime Minister has not come to Parliament. And you are asking me why Parliament is not functioning?" she said.

(Inputs from ANI)

CJP protest LIVE: The situation remains highly tense at the Sansad Marg–Tolstoy Lane intersection, where protesters and police are standing face to face, separated only by a rope barricade.

A few bottles have been thrown towards the police personnel amid the standoff, further escalating tensions in the area.

(Inputs from Hemani)

CJP protest LIVE: Shops, offices and restaurants in Connaught Place will shut from 6.30 pm on Thursday following an NDTA advisory citing the situation around the CJP-led protest in Delhi.

The advisory drew criticism from the CJP which questioned the government's decision to order the closure.

Reacting on X, the CJP said: "Order to close all shops in Connaught Place by 6:30 pm this evening. What does the government want to do??"

CJP protest LIVE: Responding to questions about the violence during the protests, Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka said the agitation had been peaceful from the outset and blamed the unrest on anti-social elements.

“Our protest from day one has been peaceful. But it has been infiltrated by anti-social elements,” Ranka told HT.

He added that CJP volunteers were identifying such individuals and asking them to leave the protest site.

CJP protest LIVE: Tension remained high at the Sansad Marg-Tolstoy Marg intersection on Thursday, with police and protesters standing face-to-face, separated only by a rope barricade.

A few bottles were thrown towards the police personnel as the standoff continued, adding to the already charged atmosphere near the protest site.

Heavy security remains deployed in the area as authorities monitor the situation closely. Further details are awaited.

CJP protest LIVE: The Delhi Police Crime Branch has been tasked with investigating all 11 cases registered in connection with the alleged violence during the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protests in and around Jantar Mantar between July 20 and July 22.

A formal order issued on Thursday transferred the cases registered at Parliament Street, Connaught Place, Barakhamba Road, Mandir Marg and Kartavya Path police stations to the Crime Branch for further investigation.

CJP protest LIVE: A group of Supreme Court lawyers on Thursday held a protest under the slogan “Save Democracy, Save Constitution” in support of the student agitation at Jantar Mantar.

Expressing solidarity with the protesters, one advocate said, “We're standing with all the students who are protesting for their rights, and we want justice for all of them.”

Another advocate said members of the legal fraternity were opposing the alleged injustice against students. “We have taken this to extend our support so that it can be conveyed to everybody in the country that the Supreme Court Bar Association members have taken this vow to stand and support... all the brutalities which have been done to the students,” the advocate said.

CJP protest LIVE: Union minister JP Nadda on Thursday reiterated the Centre's offer to hold talks with the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), saying the government remains open to discussions.

Responding to the updated proposal for dialogue, Nadda said, “Yes, we are ready. Come to our residence or to our official office.”

CJP protest LIVE: Addressing protesters at Jantar Mantar, Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka rejected the Centre's latest offer for talks, saying the government had refused to meet at the protest site.

Referring to Union minister Jitendra Singh's statement that the government had reached out to the CJP four times, Ranka said, “We asked them to come to Jantar Mantar. They refused. They asked us to come to JP Nadda's house.”

Ranka then asked the crowd whether the CJP should accept the invitation to meet at Nadda's residence. After protesters responded with a unanimous “NO”, he said, “Then we will not go. The public has decided.”

CJP protest LIVE: Connaught Place traders' body president Atul Bhargava said the advisory to shut shops and offices by 6:30 pm on Thursday was issued purely as a precautionary measure to prevent any damage to property.

“We got calls from NDMC that it is advisable to close the shops by 6.30 pm. The number of people coming to this area is much higher today,” Bhargava said.

He added that no property damage had been reported, including during the July 20 protests. “We have around 1,400 shops and over 1,000 big and small offices in the area, and this is a precautionary measure,” he said.

- via Paras Singh

CJP protest LIVE: The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on Thursday called for nationwide peaceful protests on July 24, urging supporters to take the agitation beyond Delhi.

Appealing to people across the country, the organisation asked citizens to hold peaceful demonstrations "in every city and every village" to press for the resignation of Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

“Let's make this protest national. On July 24, please hold peaceful protests across the country, in every city and every village,” the CJP spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka said.