5 hours agoAuthor: Sourav Rai/Akriti Saxena
A clash broke out between students and police at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar on Wednesday night during the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) protest.
CJP protesters pelted stones at security personnel, prompting police to fire tear gas shells to disperse the crowd.
Several videos linked to the incident have surfaced online, showing some protesters carrying sticks and allegedly attacking police personnel.
Meanwhile, activist Sonam Wangchuk released a video message from Gurugram’s Medanta Hospital on Wednesday evening, saying he had completed 25 days of his indefinite fast.
“It has been 25 days, but I am still alive. Some Members of Parliament came to meet me and appealed to me to end my hunger strike,” Wangchuk said.
He added that he was ready to end his fast immediately if the government assured him that no action would be taken against the protesting students.
“If the government gives me that assurance, I am ready to end my fast today itself. My only request is that no action should be taken against the students,” he said.
Wangchuk, who had been participating in the CJP protest, was shifted from Jantar Mantar to Delhi’s Safdarjung Hospital on July 18.
Following a court order on Tuesday, he was transferred to Medanta Hospital in Gurugram, where he is currently undergoing treatment.
Visuals of clash between protestors and police
Opposition MPs stopped at Medanta Hospital gate while trying to meet Sonam Wangchuk; stage sit-in protest outside the hospital
Visuals of protest from Jantar Mantar
Thousands gather at Jantar Mantar, demanding Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation
Protesters pile up shoes at Jantar Mantar to protest the police action during the July 20 Parliament march
Female students holding banners participate in the protest at Jantar Mantar
Food was arranged for protesters outside Janpath Metro station after 16 Delhi Metro stations were closed on Wednesday amid heightened security
Delhi High Court orders preservation of CCTV Footage
The Delhi High Court on Tuesday directed the government to preserve CCTV footage related to the alleged assault on students during the CJP protest, while hearing a petition over the incident.
Meanwhile, Abhijeet Dipke appealed to activist Sonam Wangchuk to end his indefinite fast, saying the country needs him. He added that the party would continue its peaceful protest.
Amid heightened security in the national capital, the Centre deployed 20 additional CRPF companies from West Bengal to Delhi. Around 2,000 personnel were airlifted from Kolkata following directions from the Union Home Ministry.
Sixteen Delhi Metro stations that had been shut as a precautionary measure were reopened by the evening after security restrictions were eased.
Separately, Delhi Police registered an FIR over the alleged assault on a Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel during the CJP protest. According to police, a viral video shows protesters assaulting the RAF jawan, pelting stones at an RAF vehicle, and vandalising it.
For updates on the CJP’s protest at Jantar Mantar, go through the blog…
Updates
Actor Salman Khan backed students protesting against paper leaks, calling their movement peaceful and courageous.
He said the issue should not be politicised, as it is between students and the education system.
Expressing hope for reforms, Salman urged the government to strengthen the education system and said India should aspire to become a global education hub.
Fresh violence broke out near Delhi’s Jantar Mantar on Wednesday night as students and police clashed during ongoing protests.
According to police, protesters resorted to stone-pelting, prompting security personnel to respond with tear gas shells in an attempt to disperse the crowd.
Social activist Anna Hazare on Wednesday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, expressing concern over the alleged police action against students during the recent protests in Delhi and calling for greater accountability in the government.
In his letter, Hazare said a minister’s resignation would not weaken the government but would instead send a strong message of accountability to other ministers and improve governance.
He also said the country’s youth were deeply concerned about examination paper leaks, delays in recruitment processes, and unemployment, urging the government to address these issues seriously.
Union Minister JP Nadda will address the media at 8:30 pm.
As Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan faces calls for his resignation over the ongoing paper leak controversy, details have emerged of his own participation in a protest against an exam paper leak nearly three decades ago.
According to The Indian Express, Prashant Raut, a former associate of Pradhan, said the minister took part in a student protest over a paper leak in Odisha in 1997. Around 1,500 students reportedly joined the demonstration.
Raut said police resorted to a lathi-charge on the protesters, during which Pradhan was allegedly beaten severely and sustained multiple injuries, including fractures. Photographs from the time reportedly show him with visible facial injuries. (Photo: TNIE)
A group of opposition MPs who reached Medanta Hospital in Gurugram to meet climate activist Sonam Wangchuk were stopped at the hospital gate on Wednesday.
Police officials said that only family members were being allowed to meet Wangchuk, following which the MPs were denied entry.
: DMRC restores access at all 17 Metro stations closed over security concerns
The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) on Wednesday announced that all 17 Metro stations that had been temporarily closed due to security reasons have now been reopened.
Passenger entry and exit have resumed at all the affected stations, restoring normal Metro operations across the network.
Visuals from today’s protest in Ahmedabad, in light of the demonstrations taking place at Jantar Mantar demanding educational reforms.
The Delhi High Court on Tuesday heard petitions alleging that Cockroach Janata Party protesters were assaulted during recent demonstrations.
The court issued a notice to the Centre and directed authorities to preserve all records, including CCTV footage and other video evidence, related to the incident.
During the hearing, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) S Raju argued that the petitions had been filed merely for publicity. The High Court questioned the claim, asking, “How can you say that these petitions were filed for publicity?”
Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk on Wednesday said he will end his fast if government assures of no legal action against protestors.
In a letter to the government, he said, “I respectfully request an unequivocal assurance from the Government that none of the young protesters will face any punitive or retaliatory legal action for participating in this movement. Their only “offence” has been to raise their voice for a fair and accountable education system.”
“If such an assurance is given, I shall end my fast with faith that the Government has heard not only my appeal but also the aspirations of lakhs of young Indians. In the absence of such an assurance, I will be forced to continue my fast indefinitely. I also hope that there will be no further use of excessive police force to repress the movement.”
“The future of our democracy depends not on how it treats those who agree with it, but on how it treats its young citizens when they dare to speak with courage, hope and conviction.”
The Delhi High Court on Wednesday questioned the Centre’s submission that petitions alleging police brutality against Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) protesters were filed merely for publicity, while hearing two pleas related to the July 20 march to Parliament.
A bench of Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia issued notices to the Centre and Delhi Police and directed them to preserve all relevant records, including CCTV footage and other video evidence, related to the incident.
During the hearing, counsel for the petitioners alleged that women protesters were molested, their private parts were targeted during the police action, officers used nail-studded batons, and some police personnel were not wearing identification badges.
The petitioners’ lawyers said they possessed 110 videos to support their allegations.
Appearing for the Centre and Delhi Police, Additional Solicitor General SV Raju argued that the crowd had become uncontrollable and several police personnel were injured. He also contended that the petitions had been filed only to gain publicity and make headlines.
The Delhi High Court on Wednesday sought responses from the Centre and Delhi Police on two petitions alleging excessive use of force against protesters during the July 20 march to Parliament.
CJP said food and water for protesters are arriving from across the country. The scene was captured at Jantar Mantar on Wednesday morning
Protesters were seen sleeping on the ground in front of the stage at Jantar Mantar on Wednesday morning
At the Jantar Mantar protest site, a portrait of Sonam Wangchuk, a copy of the Constitution, a charkha, the Bible, a Buddha statue, and the Ramcharitmanas have been placed on the stage
A large number of supporters reached Jantar Mantar on Tuesday night.
CJP has been protesting at Jantar Mantar since June 20
Protesters injured in the Parliament march on 20 July also came to protest
During the protest, the protesters brought different posters and banners
Abhijeet Dipke appealed to his supporters to protest only at Jantar Mantar
The Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) has claimed that RML Hospital is refusing to provide a consolidated list of people admitted after the alleged police lathi-charge during the NEET protest.
Reposting spokesperson Ratna Singh’s post on X, the party alleged that even lawyers have not been given access to the list and questioned why the hospital was withholding the number of admissions.
CJP said it was only seeking the total number of people admitted after the incident, not anyone’s personal medical details, and demanded greater transparency.
A delegation of the Samajwadi Party will meet activist Sonam Wangchuk at Medanta Hospital this evening to appeal to him to end his indefinite hunger strike. Wangchuk, who was recently shifted to the Gurugram hospital following a Delhi High Court order, has been on an indefinite fast over the NEET paper leak issue and education accountability.
The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on Wednesday requested that activist Sonam Wangchuk to end his hunger strike. The party requested that he end his fast and take care of his health.
The CJP also promised that the fight for examination justice will continue with even greater strength until the demands are met.
A group of students staged a protest against alleged paper leaks and demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan clashed with police in Patna on Wednesday after they attempted to march towards the Raj Bhavan. Read More
The CJP claimed use of pellet guns and shock batons against protesters during the Parliament march on 20 July. Responding to the post, Delhi Police denied the claim, calling it ‘completely false and misleading’.
However, talking to Bhaskar English, a person having direct knowledge of the incident said that a person from Jabalpur has been injured by pellet guns and is admitted to the Lady Hardinge Medical College.
The hospital made him sign an undertaking that his vision might be lost during surgery. But he didn’t lose it after the surgery.
The pellet stuck in the victim’s neck isn’t removed, as it’s close to a blood vessel. A total of 7 pellets have been removed.
Later responding to Delhi Police, CJP claimed that it was the RAF which used the pellet guns.
The Supreme Court on Wednesday refused an urgent listing of a plea challenging the alleged police action against student protesters.
When the petitioner’s counsel referred to videos allegedly showing police brutality, Chief Justice of India Surya Kant remarked, “We don’t have time to watch videos. Don’t waste our time.”
Former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) President MK Stalin on Wednesday backed the protesting students in the national capital and called for the “abolition of NEET”, saying that “only scrapping” the medical entrance exam can provide a lasting solution to the issues raised by students.
Congress MP Syed Naseer Hussain said Opposition MPs will wear black clothes on Wednesday and observe a “Black Day” in protest against the alleged use of police force against students and MPs.
The Delhi High Court will hear a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) today challenging the alleged police action against students and other protesters during activist Sonam Wangchuk’s hunger strike at Jantar Mantar.
The plea seeks an independent investigation into the July 18 operation, preservation of evidence, and directions to ensure protection of the constitutional right to peaceful protest.
TMC Chief Whip in the Rajya Sabha Nadimul Haque has given a notice under Rule 267 for Wednesday, 22 July, seeking an immediate discussion in the House on “Delhi Police atrocities against peacefully protesting students on 20 July.”
The Centre has ordered the deployment of 20 additional companies of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in Delhi to strengthen security arrangements amid the ongoing Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) protest and demonstrations by various political parties, officials said on Wednesday.
The additional personnel have been brought in from West Bengal as part of the enhanced security measures.
BJP leader Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh said the protest at Jantar Mantar began with genuine concerns raised by students but was later taken over by political groups.
Delhi Police have registered an FIR in connection with the alleged assault on Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel during the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) protest.
According to the police, a viral video shows protesters attacking the RAF personnel, pelting stones at an RAF vehicle and vandalising it.
CJP spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka said on Tuesday night that when the government called them for talks on July 20th, they were kept in custody for four hours. Ashutosh said, “Sourav Das and I were not allowed to use our phones for two hours. We were not even allowed to go outside. We felt as if we were under house arrest.”
The government first spoke with the CJP during the Parliament March on July 20th. JP Nadda met with CJP spokespersons Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka. During the 10-minute meeting, the CJP made three demands: first, Sonam Wangchuk should be released from the hospital, second, Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan should resign, and third, the families of the NEET students who committed suicide should be given compensation of Rs 1 crore each.
Senior Odisha Congress leaders and Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) workers staged a protest outside Lok Bhawan, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
The demonstration was held in solidarity with protesters at New Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, with participants condemning the Centre and alleging police action against Lok Sabha Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi and other senior Congress leaders.
AAP MP Sanjay Singh has submitted a Suspension of Business Notice in the Rajya Sabha, seeking a discussion on the alleged NEET-UG question paper leak, the failure of the public examination system, police action against protesters, and the health of activist Sonam Wangchuk.
Sakshi, an Adivasi student, lives with her parents in Uttam Nagar, Delhi, and is originally from Jharkhand. She is fighting for her life on a ventilator at Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in Delhi after being injured in police action during the Chalo Sansad March.
Danish, an AISA activist, said Irshad, who is originally from Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, and works in Delhi, suffered pellet injuries. Doctors say he likely has serious eye damage.
According to sources at news agency PTI, Union Ministers J.P. Nadda and Dr. Jitendra Singh met Sonam Wangchuk at Medanta Hospital in Gurugram on Tuesday night. Wangchuk was discharged from Safdarjung Hospital following a Delhi High Court order and admitted to Medanta Hospital for further treatment.
