Published Jul 20, 2026 | 11:59 AM ⚊ Updated Jul 20, 2026 | 2:07 PM
Protesters seen at Jantar Mantar.
Synopsis: The Cockroach Janta Party’s protest at Jantar Mantar entered a critical juncture even as Sonam Wangchuk laid down three conditions to end his fast and founder Abhijeet Dipke shared suspicions that the authorities were up to no good.
Union Minister JP Nadda has reached out to the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), marking the first attempt by the BJP-led central government for a dialogue with the movement, almost a month after it launched protests against exam irregularities, including the NEET-UG paper leak.
In a post on X, CJP leader Saurav Das said he is on his way to meet the minister.
“It’s 11:52 AM. Ashutosh Ranka and I, on behalf of the Cockroach Janta Party, are on our way to meet J.P. Nadda. The government had reached out for talks in the morning. Our demands are clear. The youth has gathered in huge numbers. We shall win!” he wrote.
The CJP-led protest demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET paper leak has taken a crucial turn on Day 23 as over 10,000 protesters proceeded with their march to the Parliament, defying attempts by the police and the security forces to block them.
Police resorted to lathicharge and used tear gas shells to disperse the protesters while several metro stations were briefly closed, trapping several people inside to prevent them from joining the protest.
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke, who ended his hunger strike on Monday at the request of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk is leading the protest march. Wangchuk’s wife Gitanjali Angmo, Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Mahua Moitra, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders Manish Sisodia, Sanjay Singh and Atishi have also joined the protest march.
Earlier today, student activists Neha, Aameen and Manish also ended their hunger strikes, ahead of the ‘Sansad Chalo’ march. The AISA activists have been fasting for the past 23 days demanding the resignation of the education minister.
A massive security ring had been thrown to stall the march. The Delhi Police had set up multi-layered barricades and deployed vehicle-mounted X-ray luggage scanners at several entry points into high-security zones in New Delhi, Central Delhi, and North Delhi. Also pressed into service were riot-control vehicles, anti-riot units and RAF and CRPF companies.
The police had issued an order under Section 163, BNSS (formerly Section 144, CrPC), prohibiting marches, processions, demonstrations and assemblies of five or more people, except at the designated protest site at Jantar Mantar with permission.
Delhi Police took to X to dismiss reports of violence/detentions.
“Some segments from the media have mentioned sporadic use of violence/detentions at Jantar Mantar by Delhi Police. It is informed that no such incident has taken place and the protest is being handled professionally. All are requested not to fall prey to any rumour/ misgivings, and, to assist Delhi Police in maintaining peace and public order at and around the site,” they shared.
Earlier, activist Sonam Wangchuk, who had been forcibly shifted from the site of his hunger strike at Jantar Mantar on Saturday morning, sought assurances from the Centre that all his demands would be met.
Wangchuk, while terming his detention at the Safdarjung hospital to be illegal, set forth three conditions to end his fast in a handwritten note.
“a. If the govt takes accountability of the recent failures in Education System – paper leaks etc
or…
b. If I & the leadership of CJP reach the doorsteps of Parliament where Hon’ble MPs & leaders of various parties assure us that they will now take up the issue in the Parliament.
or…
c. If my health or other factors do not permit this then the Hon’ble MPs & leaders of different parties visit this Hospital and give the above assurance,” he wrote.
Early in the morning, before the march, Abhijeet Dipke had expressed apprehension that the authorities were planning “something heinous”.
“We have received input that the authorities are planning something heinous where they will allow goons to disrupt the protest and then blame it on the peaceful CJP protesters,” Dipke posted on X.
He also shared photographs of lorries parked at Jantar Mantar, saying they were loaded with stones.
“What are the police authorities up to? Are they orchestrating stone-pelting on the peaceful CJP protesters?” he asked.
In a separate post, he shared that a truck loaded with stones had been parked at Jantar Mantar. He also posted visuals of what he claimed was a wrecked van, alleging the “Godi media will run stories claiming that the protestors vandalised the van to defame the peaceful protest.”
Shame on Delhi Police!
A truck loaded with stones and a wrecked van have already been placed at Jantar Mantar.
Soon, the Godi media will run stories claiming that the protesters vandalised the van to defame this peaceful protest. pic.twitter.com/5ZOPOLHm8v
— Abhijeet Dipke (@abhijeet_dipke) July 20, 2026
(Edited by R Rajesh Kumar.)
