Three Delhi Metro station gates were temporarily closed on Monday morning ahead of the Cockroach Janta Party's (CJP) planned "Chalo Sansad" march to Parliament, as thousands of supporters gathered at Jantar Mantar demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the alleged NEET-UG paper leak and other examination-related irregularities.
According to the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), entry and exit gates at Janpath, Rajiv Chowk, Patel Chowk, Central Secretariat and Seva Teerth Metro stations were closed as a precautionary measure due to the proposed march. Shortly before the advisory, the CJP claimed that multiple Metro stations had been shut as protesters made their way to Jantar Mantar.
BIG NEWS - An ambulance was stuck due to CJP protesters. Delhi Police timely intervened and helped it pass. pic.twitter.com/MTt5FPjIaS
— News Algebra (@NewsAlgebraIND) July 20, 2026
Later, the DMRC announced that interchange facilities and station gates at Rajiv Chowk and Central Secretariat Metro stations had resumed operations, partially restoring normal services.
The protest, which has continued at Jantar Mantar for over a month, intensified on the opening day of Parliament's Monsoon Session. Activist Sonam Wangchuk, currently admitted to Safdarjung Hospital while on an indefinite hunger strike, extended support to the march. He was shifted to the hospital after the Delhi High Court allowed authorities to intervene if his health deteriorated during the fast.
As crowds swelled, tension erupted at Jantar Mantar when protesters attempted to begin their march towards Parliament. Delhi Police had deployed heavy security across the New Delhi district, erecting multiple layers of barricades and positioning riot control vehicles to prevent demonstrators from entering restricted areas.
Visuals from the protest site showed hundreds of students carrying flags and raising slogans as they attempted to cross police barricades. Security personnel repeatedly pushed back demonstrators to maintain order, while reports from the ground claimed that police used force, including an alleged lathi-charge, to disperse protesters trying to breach barricades.
Authorities also imposed restrictions around the protest site and reportedly deployed signal jammers in the area, with several protesters claiming that mobile phone connectivity had been affected.
Patel Chowk Metro Station, located close to Jantar Mantar, was also closed as a precautionary measure during the demonstration.
Amid the chaos, an ambulance was briefly stuck due to the gathering crowd. Delhi Police later facilitated its movement, allowing it to pass through safely.
The protest comes amid heightened security arrangements in central Delhi as demonstrators continue demanding accountability over the alleged examination irregularities while police maintain a strict vigil to prevent the march from reaching Parliament.
