July 21, 2026
The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) called off its protest outside the Delhi Police headquarters on July 21, 2026, after claiming that all detainees had been released. The development came a day after a police lathi charge during the party's march to Parliament reportedly left several student protesters injured.
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke was detained during the protest. Dipke alleged that police action had fractured the heads of minor girls and torn the clothes of women protesters. Police denied allegations of excessive force, stating that some demonstrators had resorted to stone-pelting and that only minimum force was used.
At least 50 paramilitary personnel and 10 police officials were reportedly injured in the clashes, according to reports cited by the news agency.
Dipke was detained near the Reserve Bank of India, close to the Parliament complex, as security forces used tear gas and lathi charges at multiple locations, including near Constitution Club and Shastri Bhavan, to disperse protesters who attempted to breach barricades. Police also vacated the Jantar Mantar protest site.
Earlier on July 21, CJP representatives Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka met Union Minister JP Nadda to submit the organisation's demands, including the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and compensation for the families of NEET-UG aspirants who died by suicide.
Speaking to IANS on July 21, Dipke said the hunger strike led by Sonam Wangchuk would continue until Pradhan resigns. He also welcomed the Opposition for raising the NEET-UG issue in Parliament on the first day of the Monsoon Session.
CJP Protest Jantar Mantar Live Updates
10:03 PM: Rajasthan Congress stages protest over alleged lathi-charge on NEET protesters
9:27 PM: Sonia Gandhi reaches Mandir Marg Police Station after opposition leaders' detention
8:55 PM: Six Delhi Police personnel injured during Jantar Mantar protest, says DCP
8:54 PM: Abhijeet Dipke's mother condemns alleged lathi-charge on protesting students
8:30 PM: Cockroach Janta Party says all detainees released, calls off protest outside Delhi Police HQ
8:28 PM: Rahul Gandhi, Opposition leaders taken to Chhatrasal Stadium after detention
8:09 PM: Detained Opposition leaders taken to Mandir Marg Police Station
7:42 PM: Rahul Gandhi detained during Opposition protest outside PM's residence
6:58 PM: Ambulance carrying Sonam Wangchuk leaves Safdarjung for Medanta Hospital
6:35 PM: Rahul Gandhi changed demands after government agreed to NEET discussion, claims Jitendra Singh
Union Minister Jitendra Singh claimed that the government had agreed to Rahul Gandhi's initial demand for a discussion in Parliament on issues related to NEET and the associated protests. Singh alleged that after being informed of the government's decision, the Leader of Opposition sought an additional assurance seeking the resignation of the Union Education Minister.
Calling the move “unfortunate,” Singh said Rahul Gandhi had gone back on his earlier position and described it as contrary to democratic norms.
आज नेता प्रतिपक्ष राहुल गांधी ने जिस प्रकार का कृत्य किया है, वह न केवल अशोभनीय है, बल्कि लोकतांत्रिक मर्यादाओं के भी विपरीत और अत्यंत निंदनीय है।
नेता प्रतिपक्ष जिस गरिमा का पद है, उस पद को भी राहुल गांधी गंभीरता से नहीं लेते हैं, ये उनके व्यवहार में साफ दिखाई दिया।
लोकतंत्र… pic.twitter.com/tYfWKd0fla
— BJP (@BJP4India) July 21, 2026
आज नेता प्रतिपक्ष राहुल गांधी ने जिस प्रकार का कृत्य किया है, वह न केवल अशोभनीय है, बल्कि लोकतांत्रिक मर्यादाओं के भी विपरीत और अत्यंत निंदनीय है।
नेता प्रतिपक्ष जिस गरिमा का पद है, उस पद को भी राहुल गांधी गंभीरता से नहीं लेते हैं, ये उनके व्यवहार में साफ दिखाई दिया।
लोकतंत्र… pic.twitter.com/tYfWKd0fla
5:27 PM: Nikhat Zareen urges dialogue, says nations grow by answering questions
5:25 PM: Armaan Malik calls for fairness, empathy and dialogue in social media post
5:05 PM: VD Satheesan joins Congress protest
Kerala Chief Minister VD Satheesan joined the Congress protest at Lok Kalyan Marg. Meanwhile, Union Minister Jitendra Singh arrived at the protest site and was seen speaking with Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi as the Congress demonstration continued.
4:49 PM: Uttarakhand students protest over paper leaks
Students in Dehradun marched towards the Secretariat, demanding an end to exam paper leaks and the resumption of stalled recruitment processes. During the protest, a student said they were neither targeting nor abusing the government but were urging it to prioritise the welfare of the youth. The student added that they believed Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami was a good person and hoped the government would address their concerns.
4:30 PM: Sharad Pawar visits Jantar Mantar protest site
NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar visited the Jantar Mantar protest site to meet protesters following the alleged police action during the protest a day earlier.
4:21 PM: CJP removes spokesperson Vijeta Dahiya over ‘insensitive’ videos amid protest
The Cockroach Janta Party removed its spokesperson Vijeta Dahiya from the post and relieved him of all official duties after videos of him surfaced while peaceful protesters and party members were allegedly facing police action.
In a statement, the party described Dahiya's actions as “deeply insensitive”, “unacceptable” and showing a “complete lack of judgment”. The party said his conduct was inconsistent with the values and principles of the movement.
The party also claimed that a large crowd had gathered in and around Jantar Mantar as of 3:30 PM and reiterated its demand for Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation. It said its volunteers were providing legal and medical assistance to protesters.
3:54 PM: Rahul, Priyanka hold sit-in outside PM's residence
Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra staged a sit-in protest outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi's residence, demanding his resignation over the ongoing students' agitation.
3:30 PM: Govt must come to Jantar Mantar for talks, says CJP
Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke said the group's demands remained unchanged, including the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, ₹1 crore compensation for the families of the victims, and the immediate release of Sonam Wangchuk and all detained protesters.
“This is a long battle, but we are not only going to fight it, we are going to win it,” he said.
On the possibility of fresh talks with the government, Dipke said the CJP would not approach the government again. “They will have to come here (Jantar Mantar), we won’t be going to them now,” he said.
3:13 PM: Akhilesh says PM must remove Education Minister
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav questioned why Prime Minister Narendra Modi could not remove the Education Minister despite taking action on other issues.
He said the Opposition was “only asking for a new Education Minister” since the NEET examination had already been reconducted, adding that it was not seeking the government's removal.
However, he warned that if the government failed to act, “the people will remove it through the power of their vote.”
