Union Minister J.P. Nadda said talks with the protesters began on Monday morning and were held in a cordial atmosphere. He said the delegation submitted a written memorandum around 4 pm, adding that he had urged the protesters to end their sit-in and cooperate with the administration in restoring normalcy.
Activist Sonam Wangchuk on Monday ended his 23-day hunger strike after Union Minister J.P. Nadda met the protesters and held discussions with them. Wangchuk had been admitted to Safdarjung Hospital on July 18 after his health deteriorated due to dehydration, low potassium levels and elevated ketone levels, according to CNN-News18.
In a post on X, CJP spokesperson Saurav Das said, "After waiting for more than two hours, Ashutosh Ranka and I met J.P. Nadda at his residence for 10 minutes. We submitted a written memorandum outlining our demands, and he assured us that he would discuss the matter internally. The process is now underway."
CJP spokespersons said they met the Union Minister after the government reached out to them. During the meeting, spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka said they placed three demands before Nadda — the immediate release of Sonam Wangchuk, the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, and ₹1 crore compensation for the families of all NEET aspirants who died by suicide.
Saurav Das also claimed that J.P. Nadda assured the delegation that there would be no further crackdown at or around Jantar Mantar. "However, there are no reports yet of the police stopping," he said.
Meanwhile, Jantar Mantar was cleared after police resorted to lathicharge and tear gas around 4 pm on Monday. The protest, however, spread across Central Delhi. According to HT reporters on the ground, nearly 50,000 protesters took to the streets demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The 'Chalo Sansad' march remains stalled, but demonstrations are continuing across the capital.
At Jantar Mantar, police used mild force to disperse the crowd. Personnel had already been deployed at the site on Sunday, with a riot control vehicle entering the venue early on Monday. The CJP has been protesting at Jantar Mantar for over a month, demanding Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation over the alleged NEET paper leak and other issues.
Heavy security was deployed at the protest site, with barricades installed near Kerala House and along Tolstoy Marg, one of the main entry points to Jantar Mantar. A small passage was left open for people to enter the site while police personnel maintained vigil.
The Delhi Police also imposed prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the BNSS. Deputy Commissioner of Police Sachin Sharma, in a public advisory on X, clarified that no permission had been sought or granted for any protest march or procession.
Earlier, in a handwritten note from Safdarjung Hospital, Wangchuk had outlined three conditions for ending his fast. He said he would call off the hunger strike if the government accepted accountability for failures in the education system, including paper leaks, or if Members of Parliament assured him that the issue would be raised in Parliament. He had also said that if his health did not permit him to travel, MPs could visit him in the hospital and provide those assurances.
Delhi: Delhi Police are removing the protest camps set up by the CJP, while security forces have also been deployed at the site. pic.twitter.com/otAXiis45Z
— IANS (@ians_india) July 20, 2026
Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairman C.P. Radhakrishnan administered the oath to nine newly elected and re-elected Rajya Sabha members on the first day of the Monsoon Session. The House was later adjourned till July 21 after Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge demanded a discussion on the alleged NEET irregularities and the ongoing student protests.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of being the "most youth-hostile Prime Minister in India's history", alleging that 152 paper leaks had affected 7.5 crore students and that no one responsible had been punished. He also questioned why Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan had not been asked to resign.
"Prime Minister Modi is the most youth-hostile Prime Minister in India's history. This government isn't just failing the youth—it is pouncing on them," Gandhi said, alleging that students protesting against paper leaks were being met with batons while those responsible remained free.
Actor and BJP MP Kangana Ranaut also reacted to the protests, saying demonstrations should not be used to "arm-twist" the government into deciding who should remain in office. She added that Parliament is the appropriate forum to discuss public issues.
Despite the police action, the CJP said its protest would continue. In a statement, the organisation said, "Abhijeet Dipke, Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka and Gitanjali Ma'am (Sonam sir's wife) are still continuing the sit-in protest at Jantar Mantar. They are right now in front of Kerala House. This peaceful protest is not ending!"
