In a first statement of its kind, since significant protests have swept Central Delhi, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan took to X to criticise Rahul Gandhi and his sit-in protest.
“LoP Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party continue to shamelessly exploit students as political tools to manufacture disruption during the Monsoon Session of Parliament,” he said.
“For Rahul Gandhi, this is not about students. This is about manufacturing confrontation after every genuine avenue for discussion has been opened,” he added.
Taking to X, Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke said that protesters have been asked to only assemble at Jantar Mantar.
“We received reports that some goons may have been sent to other parts of Delhi to create nuisance. They are NOT with CJP,” he said.
Visuals showed Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray interacting with the protesters at Jantar Mantar
After being released from the Mandir Marg Police Station, where she had been detained after taking part in a sit-in protest near the PM’s residence, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said that the “government should bring a Bill to reform the education system, prevent paper leaks.”
The Union government on Tuesday (July 21, 2026) said that Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi had “changed the goalposts” with his demands for ending his sit-in protest outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s official residence over the NEET paper leak, resulting in Opposition leaders being summarily detained by Delhi Police.
Nistula Hebbar reports, click below to read more:
Government claims Rahul Gandhi changed demands during protest talks, leading to detentions amid growing tensions and political rivalries.
Visuals emerged showing the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha leaving the Chhatrasal Stadium, where he had been brought after being forcibly removed from near the PM’s residence.
Hours after several Congress MPs were detained from near the PM’s residence, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor was seen arriving at the CJP protest site at Jantar Mantar.
“It’s non-violent protest. No one is trying to do anything that that is against the law. So I don’t understand why the government is behaving with such insensitivity,” he said.
Hours after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were detained by the Delhi Police, Himachal Pradesh CM joined a protest in Shimla.
Congress MP Hibi Eden speaking from inside the Chhatrasal Stadium, where some Opposition MPs have been detained, criticised the “ruthless, provocative action from the Police.”
He alleged that women parliamentarians were injured in the scuffle.
Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi reaches the Mandir Marg Police Station.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is reportedly being held at this location.
TMC MP Mahua Moitra reached the Cockroach Janta Party protest site at Jantar Mantar, earlier in the evening today, extending her support to the thousands of protesters who have regrouped there:
Until two days ago, many of the teenagers and young adults who gathered at Jantar Mantar had never attended a march. As hundreds joined on Tuesday, they came carrying swimming goggles, N95 masks and helmets after watching videos of the previous day’s tear gas clashes circulate on social media.
The first-time protestors said Instagram reels, X posts and WhatsApp texts became their guide after videos from Monday’s clashes began circulating online.
The advice was simple and repeated across platforms: wear swimming goggles to protect the eyes, put on an N95 mask, carry a damp towel to cover the face, wear full-sleeved clothes to reduce skin irritation and, if possible, use a helmet in case of a lathi-charge.
Instead of discussing slogans or speeches, many young protesters exchanged tips on what had worked the previous day. Some showed friends how tightly an N95 mask should fit, while others adjusted each other’s goggles or reminded them to keep their towels wet.
- PTI
After forcibly removing and detaining Opposition leaders from near the Prime Minister’s residence, the Delhi police has taken the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi to the Chhatrasal Stadium in Model Town.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has been taken to the Mandir Marg Police Station, whereas other MPs are at Kingsway
- Sobhana K. Nair
As Rahul Gandhi was detained from near Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg, fresh visuals emerged showing the Lok Sabha LoP being taken away in a bus.
Activist Sonam Wangchuk was discharged from the Safdarjung Hospital on Tuesday evening and shifted to Medanta Hospital in Gurugram for further treatment in compliance with a Delhi High Court order, Safdarjung Hospital authorities said.
“Sonam Wangchuk has been discharged from VMMC and Safdarjung Hospital today at 06:40 pm and has been handed over to the team of doctors from Medanta Hospital, Gurugram for further medical care as per the order dated 21.07.2026 of Hon’ble High Court of Delhi,” a statement from the Safdarjung Hospital said.
“At the time of discharge, his vital parameters were stable. However, pancytopenia persists, and his serum potassium level was 3.4 mEq/L.”
“Copies of all relevant medical records, investigation reports, and treatment documents have been handed over to the receiving medical team to ensure continuity of care,” the statement said.
- PTI
The Aam Aadmi Party, which has been openly backing the ongoing CJP protest, on Tuesday took a dig at the Congress’ dharna outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence, calling it a “jugalbandi” with the BJP government, and accused Rahul Gandhi of “weakening” the agitation.
Senior AAP leader and former Delhi chief minister Atishi questioned how Rahul was “allowed” to stage a dharna outside the PM’s residence, while the Modi government had refused to talk to Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) supporters despite their month-long protest.
Delhi Police rejected allegations by the CJP’s chief spokesperson that security personnel used pellet guns against protesters during the “Chalo Sansad” march, terming the claim “completely false and misleading”.
CJP’s Saurav Das shared a video on his official X handle alleging that police had fired pellet guns at peaceful protesters. The post also carried a video showing a man lying injured in a hospital, claiming he had sustained pellet injuries during the protest.
Responding to the allegation, Delhi Police issued a “Fake News Alert” on its official X account, denying the claim.
- PTI
Samajwadi Party shared visuals from inside the bus, as Akhilesh Yadav, who has been detained by the Delhi Police is being removed from the protest site.
Congress’ Pawan Khera said that the Delhi Police is not willing to inform the party where are they are taking Rahul Gandhi.
Mr. Gandhi, along with Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and Samajwadi Party’s Akhilesh Yadav, and other political leaders were picked up from outside the PM’s residence where they were staging a sit-in protest.
The Delhi Police has also detained Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav from the protest site near PM residence.
- Sobhana K. Nair
The Delhi Police moved to detain Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, along with other Congress leaders who were conducting a sit-in protest outside the PM’s residence at the Lok Kalyan Marg, demanding Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation.
Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav have sat down, and refused to budge from outside the PM’s residence as Delhi Police attempts to clear the sit-in protest.
They have been surrounded by police, reports Sobhana K. Nair.
Delhi Police has begun detaining Congress leaders from outside the PM’s residence at Lok Kalyan Marg, where they had been sitting on a dharna demanding the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan.
-Sobhana K. Nair
Leaders from other Opposition parties were seen joining the Rahul Gandhi-led dharna outside the PM’s residence, demanding the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan.
Samajwadi Party’s Akhilesh Yadav, and NCP (SP)’s Supriya Sule were among those seen at the site.
- Sobhana K. Nair
Alleging that the Delhi Police is not allowing those detained during the Parliament March on Monday (July 20, 2026), access to lawyers, CJP spokespersons Ashutosh Ranka, Deepak Baliyan and Saurav Das said they will conduct a peaceful sit-in at 8 p.m. outside Delhi Police headquarters, if the detainees are not allowed to meet lawyers before that.
- Suruchi Kumari
Malayalam actor Tovino Thomas, took to Instagram to decry the police brutality that took place against protesters in Delhi during the Parliament March on Monday (July 20, 2026)
WhatsApp Image 2026-07-21 at 18.19.27.jpeg
Student organisations SFI, AISF, PDSU and AIFDS Telangana organised a Chalo Lok Bhavan protest in Hyderabad on Tuesday (July 21, 2026) demanding removal of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and expressing solidarity with the ongoing student movement at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi.
The protest, which began at Khairatabad junction and headed towards Lok Bhavan, was stopped by the police before it could reach the venue. The organisations alleged that participants were forcibly detained and shifted to Asifnagar Police Station.
Click below to read more on this:
Hyderabad students protest for Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's removal, citing education policy concerns and police suppression.
Popular Tamil rapper Arivu (Arivarasu Kalainesan) was detained by Greater Chennai City police after he and three others attempted to stage a protest near the Secretariat on Tuesday (July 21, 2026), demanding the abolition of the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET).
Arivu and the three protesters gathered at the entrance of the Secretariat and raised slogans demanding that NEET be scrapped. They also sought action against the police over the crackdown on protesters during the march to Parliament in Delhi.
Following a meeting with Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi, who is leading a sit-in protest outside the PM’s resident, MoS Jitendra Singh took to X to say that Mr. Gandhi’s “behaviour does not align with the principles of democracy,” alleging the LoP of backtracking on his words.
Mr. Singh gave a detailed rundown of the discussion that transpired between him and Mr. Gandhi. According to the MoS, when asked to vacate the premises, Mr. Gandhi initially demanded a discussion in Parliament on the NEET issue. When the MoS obtained permission from senior government officials for this, he alleges that Mr. Gandhi “also sought assurance for the resignation of the Union Education Minister.”
“When he was reminded that earlier he had only demanded discussion, he said that now my demands have changed. When an attempt was made to humbly explain to him that for a senior leader like him to backtrack from his word so quickly does not befit him, he said that it is his prerogative. When the Home Secretary tried to explain that this site is not suitable for a sit-in, his response was that it is also his prerogative to sit wherever he wants,” Mr. Singh said.
“The government is ready to discuss in Parliament all issues related to NEET and the associated movement,” he added.
Congress has reached out to other opposition leaders inviting them to join Rahul Gandhi at the dharna in front of the Prime Minister’s residence at Lok Kalyan Marg, says sources.
-Sobhana K. Nair
Among the crowd of protesters that continued to swell at Jantar Mantar on Tuesday (July 21, 2026), were the kin of a NEET aspirant from Maharashtra who ended his life. At Jantar Mantar, they were seen carrying a copy of his NEET admit card from the first examination this year.
Those in distress or having suicidal tendencies could seek help and counselling by calling any of the following numbers: ASRA - 022 2754 6669 (24x7); The Samaritans Mumbai: 8422984528/842984529/8422984530 ( 5 p.m. -8 p.m., all days)
Photo: Akul Baiju
- Akul Baiju
A delegation of Left parliamentarians visited Jantar Mantar on Tuesday (July 21, 2026) to express solidarity with students protesting against alleged irregularities in the education sector and demanded that Union Home Minister Amit Shah make a statement in Parliament on the police action during Monday’s (July 20) attempted march to Parliament.
The delegation included CPI(M) Rajya Sabha MPs John Brittas, A.A. Rahim and V. Sivadasan, CPI Rajya Sabha MP P. Sandosh Kumar, and CPI(M) Lok Sabha MPs Amra Ram and Su Venkatesan, among others.
In a post on X, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi called upon “every patriotic Indian who believes our students deserve justice [to] join us [Congress] in dharna in front of the Prime Minister’s residence.”
Congress has conveyed four demands to the government:
Apology to students
- Sobhana K. Nair
Visuals showed Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan, and MoS Jitendra Singh meeting Rahul Gandhi outside the PM’s residence as they urged him to end the dharna
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said that his party demands for a statement by Home Minister Amit Shah over the student protests. He also reiterated the demand for Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation.
Kerala CM V.D. Satheesan joins the Congress protest outside PM Modi’s residence.
NCP (SP) leader Sharad Pawar visited the CJP protest site at Jantar Mantar to check on the protestors following the police crackdown on Monday (July 20, 2026), the party says.
Congress MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa says, “If this is the condition of MPs, imagine what is happening to students,” while he was being taken away by security personnel during a Congress protest outside PM’s residence.
“We strongly condemn the deeply insensitive actions of our spokesperson Vijeta Dahiya, whose videos surfaced while peaceful protestors and our team were facing brutal police violence. Such conduct is unacceptable, shows a complete lack of judgment, and is wholly inconsistent with the values and principles of our movement.
In response we are removing Vijeta Dahiya as spokesperson of the Cockroach Janta Party and relieving him of all the official duties,” the CJP said in a social media post.
Delhi Police detain Congress leaders including Kanhaiya Kumar and party workers protesting at Lok Kalyan Marg.
- ANI
Hundreds of people have gathered outside one of the two entrances to the Jantar Mantar protest site, the entrance towards Tolstoy Marg. They are waiting to enter the main protest site.
There is also a long queue of people trying to get in and some also move out at the entry point.
- Nikhil M. Babu
Activist Sonam Wangchuk’s wife, Gitanjali J Angmo, on Tuesday (July 21, 2026) welcomed the Delhi High Court’s order allowing him to be shifted from Safdarjung Hospital to Medanta Hospital, saying it reaffirmed a citizen’s fundamental right to choose their doctors and alleged that Mr. Wangchuk’s admission to the government hospital amounted to a “detention”.
She also alleged that Mr. Wangchuk was brought to Safdarjung Hospital by police rather than hospital staff and claimed that he was kept in the intensive care unit unnecessarily.
“We are very happy. This order came in record time. In India, a democratic citizen has the right to choose doctors and hospitals,” Ms. Angmo told reporters after the court proceedings.
- PTI
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said that he has marched to PM Modi’s residence “to demand answers from him for the brutalities against young students”.
Congress MPs led by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi outside PM Modi’s residence: 7, Lok Kalyan Marg, Delhi.
Thousands of people have regrouped at the protest site in Jantar Mantar. There is a continuous stream of people coming to the protest site through both the entry points. Despite rain, there are crowds outside the entry points.
Former Delhi Minister Gopal Rai and other AAP leaders are also at the protest site.
- Nikhil M. Babu
Delhi Police has registered four FIRs so far and is in the process of filing two more in connection with violence, vandalism and other incidents during the “Sansad Chalo” march organised by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and farmers’ groups on July 20, sources said on Tuesday (July 21, 2026).
The cases were registered at Parliament Street, Connaught Place and other police stations, and invoke multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the Arms Act and the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, they said.
One FIR was lodged in connection with the violence and stone-pelting near Regal Cinema at Connaught Place, while separate cases relate to unlawful assembly, unauthorised flying of a drone during the Parliament session and an alleged conspiracy behind the violence, a police source said. Two more FIRs are being prepared in connection with assault, taking the law into one’s own hands and other related offences, he said.
- PTI
Targeting the Centre over its crackdown on protesters demanding Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation, the Shiv Sena (UBT) on Tuesday (July 21, 2026) said the ongoing agitation marks the beginning of a revolution, with “millions of cockroaches” taking a decisive step.
In an editorial published in the party mouthpiece Saamana, the Uddhav Thackeray-led party accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of protecting “corrupt and incompetent” Ministers, alleging that he was “committing treason” and ruining the country.
“That is why millions of ‘cockroaches’ are storming Parliament and demanding Modi’s resignation. This is the beginning of a revolution. Millions of cockroaches are taking a step toward revolution,” the editorial said.
- PTI
Delhi High Court allows activist Sonam Wangchuk, on hunger strike in solidarity with the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) student protest, to be shifted to his hospital of choice, Medanta Hospital.
- Soibam Rocky Singh
Centre said it has no objection to shifting activist Sonam Wangchuk to a private hospital of his choice, over a plea filed in Delhi High Court by activist Sonam Wangchuk’s wife Dr. Gitanjali Angmo, challenging a Single Judge’s order refusing to shift him from Safdarjung Hospital. Solicitor-General Tushar Mehta submitted this in the court but urged that Mr. Wangchuk remain under continuous medical supervision and not be discharged except on the advice of Medanta’s doctors. The Bench proposes his transfer along with all medical records from Safdarjung Hospital and says it will pass orders after lunch.
- ANI
A student, aged 25, resident of Ghitorni is admitted at LHMC and undergoing treatment for pellet injuries.
Others with minor injuries have been discharged from the hospital. Another protester with an eye injury (also from pellets) has been shifted to AIIMS, according to hospital sources.
Meanwhile, a young woman injured in police action during CJP protest is on ventilator in Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, says PTI sources.
— Ashna Bhutani
Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi should apologise to the students and stop the police crackdown on students.
“This is completely wrong. This is no way to treat the young people of this country. They have no opportunities. The only door open to them is that of competitive examinations, and that door has also been destroyed. These students are not just complaining about the education system; they are speaking about their future. They are saying that today, because of Mr Adani and Mr Ambani, because of the RSS’s complete takeover of the education system, and because pracharaks are becoming vice-chancellors of universities, they have no future. This is not just about education; it is about the future of the country’s youth,” Mr. Gandhi said.
A PIL alleging excessive force by the Delhi Police during the Cockroach Janta Party’s ‘Sansad Chalo’ march was mentioned before the Delhi High Court for urgent listing on Tuesday (July 21, 2026). The Court refused to entertain the request immediately, remarking, “Don’t drag the Court into all this. It will come up tomorrow.”
The police lathi-charged and dispersed protesters using tear gas in a crackdown against the CJP’s march to the Parliament in Delhi on Monday (July 20, 2026), leaving several people injured. At least 38 of the injured were taken to the Lady Hardinge Medical College and around 65 to the Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, said sources, with fractures, swelling due to tear gas, and head and eye injuries.
“Day 24 of @Wangchuk66’s hunger-strike”: Abhijeet Dipke shares a picture of Sonam Wangchuk’s hunger strike. Picture: X/@abhijeet_dipke
Wangchuk.jpg
Union Minister J.P. Nadda meets with doctors in Delhi’s Ram Manohar Lohia hospital.
Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav said that several officers in plain clothes were beating up protestors during the protests in Delhi on Monday (July 20, 2026).
“No one could imagine that post independence, the government could behave in such a way with people. Hitler had formed his private army, and yesterday we saw many people in plain clothes beating up protesters, just like Hitler,” Mr. Yadav said.
He said, “BJP government is unable to pressure its Ministers to resign because it knows that if they are pressured then they will reveal the secrets of this government.”
- Sobhana K. Nair
Union Minister and Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) president Chirag Paswan on Tuesday said he respected the sentiments of students protesting over the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak, while stressing that he was not in favour of suppressing their voices and that dialogue was the best way forward.
Speaking about the CJP’s protest and its meeting with Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda, Mr. Paswan said, “I respect the sentiments of the students. Obviously, there must have been outrage and worry regarding different issues that the students had to come onto the roads. At the same time, I am not in favour of suppressing the voice of the students.”
“Dialogue is a good medium. The way their delegation met J.P. Nadda ji yesterday, the government has always kept its door open to dialogue. Sometimes the outrage is so much that people come onto the roads. If limits are crossed and law and order is obstructed, then some stringent actions are taken. I do not support that,” he added.
“I believe students and youth are the future of our country, and we should respect their sentiments, to which my government is committed,” Mr. Paswan further said.
- ANI
The Resident Doctors’ Association of Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital have urged President Droupadi Murmu to safeguard patient rights, citing reports that climate activist Sonam Wangchuk was allegedly not allowed to avail Leave Against Medical Advice (LAMA) despite being a “competent patient”.
In a representation submitted on Monday (July 20, 2026), the Resident Doctors’ Association (RDA) said that if the reports were accurate, they raised serious concerns regarding informed consent, personal liberty and constitutional rights.
It asserted that hospitals are institutions of healing and should not be perceived as places of detention except where restrictions are expressly authorised by law and carried out in accordance with due process.
The association sought the President’s intervention to uphold constitutional rights, medical ethics, patient autonomy and the independence of public healthcare institutions, besides demanding an independent inquiry into the reported events at Jantar Mantar, where Mr. Wangchuk and his supporters were protesting before he was forcefully shifted to Safdarjung Hospital.
The association expressed “deep concern” over Wangchuk’s continued hospitalisation.
“While Wangchuk’s medical condition and the necessity of his continued hospitalisation remain matters of independent clinical judgment, every individual admitted to a hospital is, first and foremost, entitled to be treated as a patient with dignity, compassion, and in accordance with established medical ethics and the Constitution of India,” the representation said.
The RDA also expressed concern over the “extraordinary security arrangements” at Safdarjung Hospital during Wangchuk’s stay.
It referred to reports and publicly available visuals showing restricted access to hospital areas, sealing off portions of the building, deployment of extensive security personnel across multiple floors and restrictions on routine hospital operations.
“If such measures resulted in the disruption of patient care, impeded access to healthcare services, or created an environment in which a hospital appeared to function as an extension of law enforcement rather than a place of healing, the matter warrants independent examination,” it said.
“Hospitals are institutions of healing and must not be perceived as places of detention except where such restriction is expressly authorised by law and carried out in accordance with due process,” it said.
The RDA sought measures to ensure that public hospitals remain dedicated solely to healthcare and not perceived to be utilised for non-medical purposes.
It called for an examination of whether the security arrangements within Safdarjung Hospital were proportionate and whether they adversely affected patient care, hospital functioning and access to medical services.
The association also voiced anguish over reports of the use of force against peaceful demonstrators at Jantar Mantar, saying that such incidents, if established, risk eroding public confidence in constitutional institutions and creating an atmosphere of fear among citizens, including members of the medical fraternity.
It also urged protection for healthcare professionals, faculty members, medical students, resident doctors and citizens exercising their constitutional rights peacefully from intimidation, violence or misuse of authority.
The association concluded by urging steps to restore transparency, institutional independence and public confidence in the healthcare system.
“As resident doctors at one of the nation’s largest public hospitals, we reaffirm our unwavering commitment to our patients and to upholding the constitutional values that govern our Republic,” the representation said.
It expressed hope that the President’s timely intervention would reinforce public confidence in constitutional institutions and reaffirm that hospitals remain places of healing, dignity, compassion and justice.
- PTI
CJP leader Abhiijt Dipke says, “They want you to lose hope. We cannot lost hope. Yesterday was just the first such call we gave.”
Union Health minister J.P. Nadda is meeting with doctors at the Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in New Delhi to enquire about the condition of people injured in yesterday’s protest.
- Nistula Hebbar
Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi will visit the injured protesters at the Ram Manohar Lohia hospital in Delhi.
- Sobhana K. Nair
Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Tuesday (July 21, 2026) said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that the government took immediate action after the NEET paper leak.
Addressing the reporters after the NDA parliamentary party meeting, Mr. Rijiju said, “Furthermore, prioritising the students’ futures, a re-examination was successfully conducted without delay in declaring the results.”
The Cockroach Janta Party protesters camped at Jantar Mantar through the night despite heavy rain, tight security and a police crackdown on them during the “Sansad Chalo” march a day ago.
On Tuesday (July 21, 2026) morning, volunteers cleaned the protest site, while CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke apologised to supporters injured in the police action.
Heavy security remained in place around the protest venue as volunteers were seen cleaning the stage, the only structure left standing after police removed the tents and other temporary installations on Monday (July 20, 2026).
Even the tent covering the stage was in a tattered condition.
- PTI
The Resident Doctors’ Association of All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi, on Tuesday (July 21, 2026) appealed to President Droupadi Murmu to order an independent, time-bound inquiry into the events at Jantar Mantar a day ago.
The RDA also raised concerns over reports that activist Sonam Wangchuk was not allowed to leave Safdarjung Hospital despite seeking a Leave Against Medical Advice (LAMA), saying that such claims, if accurate, raised questions about patients’ autonomy and rights.
In a representation to President Murmu on July 20, the association said, “Reports indicating the use of lathi charge, tear gas, and physical force against a large number of peaceful protesters, including students, doctors and young citizens, are deeply unsettling.”
“While certain aspects of the incident remain contested, videos and eyewitness accounts available in the public domain have raised serious questions regarding the manner in which peaceful democratic dissent was handled,” it said.
The RDA also flagged videos purportedly showing police personnel with their faces and name badges covered.
“Particularly concerning are videos that appear to show police personnel with their faces and name badges covered, undermining transparency and accountability in law enforcement,” the letter said.
- PTI
The Congress said the police action against protesters during the Parliament march over irregularities in examinations is a “shameful chapter” in the list of injustices inflicted upon the youth by the government.
The opposition party warned that those who beat the country’s youth under orders from people in power will one day have to face the “lathi” of the Constitution.
Congress leader Pawan Khera said, “Add this shameful chapter from yesterday to the long list of injustices inflicted upon the youth of this country -- a time when the sons and daughters of the nation were subjected to oppression and brutality at the behest of those in power. However, those who were beating the country’s youth today under orders from the powers that be will, tomorrow, have to face the ‘lathi’ of the Constitution.”
- PTI
Activist Sonam Wangchuk’s vital parameters remained stable but he continues to refuse intravenous fluids and glucose despite repeated medical advice, Safdarjung Hospital authorities said on Tuesday (July 21, 2026).
In a health bulletin issued at 9 a.m., the hospital said all necessary medical care is being provided, and his clinical condition remains under close and continuous assessment.
“Sonam Wangchuk continues to receive medical treatment at VMMC and Safdarjung Hospital under the close supervision of a multidisciplinary team of experts from VMMC & Safdarjung Hospital and AIIMS, New Delhi.
“At present, Shri Wangchuk’s vital parameters remain stable. However, his blood sugar levels continue to remain on the lower side. His serum potassium level as analysed from a sample collected last night stands at 3.2 mEq/L, and he continues to have persistent pancytopenia, characterized by anaemia and low leukocyte counts. These clinical and laboratory parameters warrant continued close monitoring through serial investigations,” the bulletin said.
“He is currently receiving oral rehydration therapy (ORS) and oral potassium supplementation. However, he continues to decline intravenous fluids and glucose administration despite repeated medical advice.
“In view of his ongoing mild to moderate dehydration, persistent laboratory abnormalities, and the physiological stress associated with prolonged fasting, sustained medical supervision and continuous clinical monitoring remain essential for his recovery and for the timely identification and management of any potential complications.
“All necessary medical care is being provided, and his clinical condition remains under close and continuous assessment. Further management will be guided by his clinical progress and serial laboratory investigations,” the bulletin said.
- PTI
Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal lashed out at Union minister J.P. Nadda’s assertion that a proposal came from the protesters to hold talks with the government, and asked that when “our fasting children’s proposals” were known to all, was the government waiting to tear-gas and lathi charge them.
“Nadda: ‘for the first time a proposal came from the protesters to hold talks with the government’. How arrogant!” “Our fasting children’s proposals were known to all. What was the government doing? Watching and waiting to tear-gas and lathi charge them! Shameful!” Mr. Sibal said.
- PTI
Singer-actor Diljit Dosanjh extended his support to the students protesting against alleged NEET irregularities and urged authorities to divert attention to their demands.
Dosanjh was previously asked about his comments on the protests, but the actor had distanced himself, stating he was “an artiste, not a politician”.
Responding to the reason he stayed silent, the actor shared a note on his Instagram story today and said students shouldn’t have been treated harshly. “What happened today was very wrong. Students should not have been treated like this. I request the authorities to listen to the students’ demands,” he wrote.
The actor said he faced several backlash and legal issues after voicing his support during the farmers’ protest in 2020. He noted how he has often been referred to as “anti-nationalist”. “I have already been labelled an ‘anti-national’ several times. Even now, I know I will be called anti-national again...After the farmers’ protest, I faced a lot of backlash and legal problems that I still cannot even discuss,” he said.
-PTI
New Delhi was brought to a halt on Monday (July 20, 2026) as hundreds of protestors attempted ‘Chalo Sansad’ march from Jantar Mantar to Parliament but were brutally lathi-charged and dispersed using tear gas by the police. As many as 70 protestors were detained while several others faced injuries; women and senior citizens not spared.
Read more:
Protesters in New Delhi faced brutal police resistance during a 'Chalo Sansad' march, with lathicharges and tear gas used to disperse crowds.
CJP president Abhijeet Dipke today apologised to the supporters of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) who were beaten by police officers.
“I apologise to all our supporters, especially the girls who were brutally beaten by male police officers. We could have done better. I could have done better to protect you from the inhumane actions of the Delhi Police,” Mr. Dipke posted on X.
“To protect one Dharmendra Pradhan, who is responsible for the deaths of more than 20 students, the Govt was willing to spill the blood of many more young students,” the post further reads.
He requested the injured people, who see his social media post, to reach out, for him to personally apologise to them.
“We will keep fighting for all of you,” he added.
Delhi Police and other security personnel were outnumbered and taken aback by thousands of protesters who arrived in and around Jantar Mantar yesterday a senior government official said. In an unprecedented turn of events, despite multiple layers of barricades, deployment of around 3,000 security personnel and an Internet shutdown, large crowds comprising mostly students and young people were able to reach the doorsteps of Parliament before they were tear-gassed and charged with batons.
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Thousands of protesters, led by the Cockroach Janta Party, overwhelmed police while demanding the resignation of Education Minister over NEET leak.
More than 118 police personnel, including several senior officers, were injured and around 70 protesters were detained yesterday, as Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP) “Sansad Chalo” protest march turned violent in the New Delhi area, police said.
Delhi Police released a statement mentioning these figures and their account, accusing protesters of displaying “unruly, aggressive and violent behaviour” during the protest and attacking security personnel, damaging government vehicles and public property.
“During today’s protest by CJP in the New Delhi area, the protesters displayed unruly, aggressive and violent behaviour. Despite repeated warnings and lawful directions issued by the police, they refused to disperse and deliberately violated the prohibitory orders in force,” read the police statement.
-PTI
The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) yesterday accused the Delhi Police of using excessive force against protesters during its “Sansad Chalo” march, alleging that several students were injured and Sonam Wangchuk’s wife, Gitanjali J. Angmo, was pushed around, as the outfit continued its protest with a sit-in near Kerala House, after police dismantled the stage at Jantar Mantar.
Police, however, denied the allegation that Angmo was assaulted as “completely false and misleading”. They claimed that “no individuals were subjected to targeted assault”.
The allegations came after police dispersed protesters attempting to march towards Parliament and cleared the protest site. By evening, CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke, spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka, Saurav Das and Angmo continued the sit-in near Kerala House, saying the agitation would continue despite the crackdown.
-PTI
Published - July 21, 2026 07:18 am IST