Jantar Mantar Protest: India keeping a close watch on foreign social media handles, says MEA | As it happened

An STF has been constituted by the Delhi Police to investigate all paper leak cases, including examinations conducted by the NTA, the UPSC, the SSC, the RRB and other notified bodies. It said the STF will coordinate with other agencies and ensure speedy trails.

The cops have dismissed social media claims that a Delhi Police Women Head Constable died during the Jantar Mantar protest, calling them "fake and fabricated".

"No such incident has occurred," it said on X. "This is malicious, and strict legal action will be taken against those creating, circulating or amplifying such fake content. Do not believe or share unverified information."

The Delhi Police has rejected social media claims that a ban has been imposed on food delivery app services across the New Delhi area, urging people to rely only on official sources for accurate and authentic updates.

"This claim is completely false, baseless, and misleading. Delhi Police has not imposed any ban on food delivery services in the New Delhi area. Citizens are advised not to believe or share unverified and misleading information," it said on X.

Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on Friday that the intel and security agencies are monitoring foreign-based social media handles after reports emerged that Pakistani handles are spreading misinformation regarding the CJP protest in Delhi.

"There are many social media handles where it is being said, as you mentioned, that they are being operated from somewhere else. I do not have information about this at the moment. I do not have confirmed details about which content on social media is coming from where. However, our agencies and the institutions connected with this issue are keeping a close watch on it," he said.

Sources have told India TV that major overhauls are likely expected in the National Testing Agency (NTA) and 47 officials could be removed from their position.

The Education Ministry will hold a press conference at 8 pm on Friday.

The Delhi Metro Rail Cooperation (DMRC) has opened the entry gates for two of its stations, Mandi House and Central Secretariat, for the public.

In view of the current situation in New Delhi district and in light of law and order, Facial Recognition System (FRS) cameras have been installed at various locations to prevent anti-social elements, criminals, wanted criminals, or anti-social elements from entering the Jantar Mantar protest. Previously, Delhi Police had installed FRS cameras at various locations for security purposes during major events in Delhi, such as January 26th, August 15th, Holi, Diwali, Eid, and Ramlila. It is completely false to claim that these cameras have been installed around Jantar Mantar in New Delhi district with the intention of spying on the Jantar Mantar protesters. Delhi Police and central agencies have received inputs that cross-border terrorist organizations are also monitoring the student protests and conspiring to disrupt the national atmosphere, reports ANI.

Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo Mamata Banerjee will join the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest in New Delhi on Monday.

With inputs from Onkar Sarkar.

The Rapid Action Force (RAF) has initiated an inquiry into allegations of its personnel using disproportionate force and firing pellet guns during the ongoing student protests in Delhi. The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has asked the inspector general (IG) of the RAF, its special anti-riots unit, to verify the sequence of events its various teams undertook to "control" the protesters as well as incidents where they were attacked, reports PTI.

Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) on Friday advised students, faculty and staff to refrain from participating in or visiting gatherings at or around Jantar Mantar, urging them to prioritise their personal safety and exercise responsibility on social media amid the ongoing protests, reports PTI.

RLP MP Hanuman Beniwal said hit out at the government over July 20 police action on CJP protesters and said the Centre is repeating what happened at the Jallianwala Bagh. He said the way the police resorted to lathi-charge, tore students' clothes, and "left several students fighting for their lives was shameful".

"Rahul Gandhi's remarks about students being injured and some allegedly losing their eyesight due to pellet guns are deeply concerning. In such situations, water cannons or minimal force may be used, but such actions should not have taken place. We strongly condemn this," he told PTI.

Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) national spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka said on Friday that the government has given the protesters a very positive response to two of their three main demands, adding that the Centre has also proposed another meeting tomorrow afternoon.

"It showed significant in-principle agreement on the demand for Rs 1 crore compensation and on the legal cases we raised. This includes not only the FIRs that have already been filed but also our demand for a sovereign guarantee that no FIRs or legal cases will be filed against the protesters in the future. There has been a very positive response from the government on both compensation and legal protection. It has agreed to these demands in principle, and we hope that we will soon receive a written agreement in this regard," he said.

Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Lok Sabha Sabha, on Friday alleged that pellet guns were used against students who participated during Cockroach Janta Party's 'Chalo Sansad' march towards the Parliament earlier this week and said the government must apologise to the youth. Click here to read more.

The Supreme Court has agreed to hear petitions alleging excessive police action against students who participated in protests at Jantar Mantar and other places across the country over examination paper leaks. The hearing will take place on July 27, reports ANI.

Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said on Friday that discussion on NEET paper leak should take place now, while highlighting that Sonam Wangchuk has also ended his hunger strike. He said the government was unable to discuss NEET paper leak for the past five days because of disruptions by the opposition.

"Our minister will brief us on the important cabinet decision. Rahul Gandhi was in the House today, so we asked that the debate begin immediately. Now, the Congress party has shown that it's not interested in debate. Those who were protesting, and Sonam Wangchuk, the most prominent figure among the protesters, also broke his hunger strike and said that the discussion should take place now. I don't think there's any benefit in politicising this. We should focus on how to take concrete steps and the future of the students," he said.

Speaking at a press conference in New Delhi, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi said on Friday that his party stands with pellet gun victims, while reiterating that Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan must resign. He alleged the government tried to murder the students and stressed that the Centre must fulfil the demands of the protesters.

Union Health Minister JP Nadda said on Friday that the talks between the government and the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) were held in a cordial manner for roughly two hours.

The meeting between representatives of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and the Union government has concluded. During the meeting, the CJP submitted its demands in writing through a five-paragraph memorandum. The government was represented by Union Ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh, while the CJP delegation comprised Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka. Further details on the outcome of the meeting are awaited.

A meeting between representatives of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and the Union government has begun at Vithalbhai Patel House in New Delhi. The talks come amid the ongoing protests over the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak controversy and are expected to focus on the CJP's key demands, including the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. 

The BJP dismissed Congress leader Sonia Gandhi's criticism of the government's handling of the student protests, and accused the opposition of trying to derive political mileage from the issue. Gandhi had said that students have demanded accountability and educational reforms, but the Modi government has responded to their courage with "cowardice and wanton cruelty, treating them not as inheritors of the future but as enemies of the nation".

In her article, An Education System's Collapse, Young India's Trauma, published in The Hindu, she accused the government of degrading India's education landscape and asserted that the country's students have called the Modi regime's bluff. Reacting to Gandhi's article, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey said the Congress lacks the moral authority to criticise it.

Activist Sonam Wangchuk's wife, Dr Gitanjali Angmo, said he ended his hunger strike only after receiving written assurance from the government that no legal action would be taken against students participating in the protests. "The student leaders will decide on the course of the protest after meeting with the government ministers," she added.

Amid the ongoing student protests, Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi said he was not allowed to speak in the Lok Sabha on the issue.
"I was not allowed to speak in the Lok Sabha. My microphone was switched off. There will be no discussion until Dharmendra Pradhan resigns," he added.

Amid continuous uproar over students' protests over the NEET paper leak, the Lok Sabha has been adjourned till Monday. The House would reconvene at 11 am on July 27. 

Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founding president Abhijeet Dipke has said the party's protest at Jantar Mantar will continue until Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigns over the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak controversy. Expressing relief over activist Sonam Wangchuk ending his 26-day hunger strike, Dipke said his life was "extremely valuable for the nation." Ahead of the CJP's meeting with Union ministers later today, he added that the talks would be held at a neutral venue, but maintained that "nothing short of Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation is acceptable."

The Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) will hold a press conference at 11 am ahead of its scheduled meeting with Union ministers later in the day. CJP national spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka said, "We want to make it clear that the protest at Jantar Mantar will continue until Dharmendra Pradhan resigns. The Prime Minister had to release a video at 12:30 am, which shows the pressure is immense. PM Modi said he would take the strictest action. The strictest action would be removing Dharmendra Pradhan. Only then will we believe that the government is serious about the future of India's youth. We have a meeting with JP Nadda at the Constitution Club of India (CCI) at 12:30 pm. Before that, we will hold a press conference at 11 am."

Opposition MPs from the I.N.D.I.A bloc are set to hold a protest at Parliament's Makar Dwar at 10.30 am today, continuing their agitation over the NEET-UG paper leak controversy as the Monsoon Session of Parliament has largely remained gridlocked over the issue. The protest follows a direct face-off that broke out between NDA and INDIA bloc MPs on Thursday, as both sides staged simultaneous demonstrations at Makar Dwar. The Opposition is demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, while the NDA has accused them of deliberately blocking a debate on the issue.

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on Friday said its protest at Jantar Mantar will continue until the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, even as activist Sonam Wangchuk ended his 26-day hunger strike following a written assurance from the Union Government on the NEET examination issue and systemic reforms.

Delhi Police today once again dismissed as "false and misleading" claims circulating on social media that its personnel resorted to firing and stone-pelting during a protest at Jantar Mantar, urging the public not to share unverified content. In a post on X, Delhi Police rejected the claims, stating that no such incident had taken place. It clarified that the videos were being circulated with a false narrative to mislead the public and were not from the Jantar Mantar protest site.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said when Parliament is in session, Prime Minister Narendra Modi should be making a statement on the paper leaks issue on the floor of the House and not delivering a "one-sided Mann Ki Baat". Kharge's remarks came after Modi announced on Thursday night in a video message that a bill containing provisions for strong action against paper leaks would be introduced in Parliament next week.

• PM Modi directed the setting up of fast-track courts for paper leak cases.
• The government held four rounds of talks with Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) leaders.
• Education Secretary Vineet Joshi was transferred.
• Naresh Pal Gangwar was appointed as the new Education Secretary.
• A fast-track court for paper leak trials was notified.
• The fast-track court will function at Delhi's Rouse Avenue Court.
• PM Modi released a video message addressing students.
• He assured strict punishment for those responsible for paper leaks.
• PM Modi announced a new bill to curb paper leaks.
• The proposed law will be placed before the Union Cabinet.
• The Centre submitted a written proposal to Sonam Wangchuk.
• Activist Sonam Wangchuk ended his hunger strike.

As per the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), 17 major Metro stations will remain closed from 7:30 am today. However, interchange facilities will continue to be available at Rajiv Chowk, Mandi House and Central Secretariat stations. The affected stations include Lok Kalyan Marg, Rajiv Chowk, Patel Chowk, Ramakrishna Ashram Marg, Barakhamba Road, Supreme Court, Seva Teerth, Janpath, Mandi House, Central Secretariat, ITO, Delhi Gate, Indraprastha, Khan Market, Jor Bagh, Shivaji Stadium and Jhandewalan.

Hours after ending his hunger strike, activist Sonam Wangchuk on Friday released a video revealing the reasons for ending his hunger strike after 26 days post midnight on July 24. In the 3-minute-long video, Wangchuk shared on his X handle revealed the reason for breaking his fast. Speaking from his hospital bed, Wangchuk stated that after meeting Union Ministers JP Nadda and Jitender Singh, he decided to end his fast as both the ministers assured him that the government and all MPs from all political parties will will discuss the issue of accountability in the failing examination system in Parliament.

After activist Sonam Wangchuk ended his 26-day hunger strike, the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) said the government has agreed to their request to hold talks at a neutral venue on Friday. Sources told news agency ANI the CJP delegation will meet with the Union ministers at 12.30 PM. The CJP reiterated to push forward their demands, including the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, one of the core demands of the students. The discussions will take place at the Constitution Club of India.

The Cockroach Janata Party has called for nationwide peaceful protests on Friday, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak controversy. In a post on X, the party appealed to people across the country to join the demonstrations and urged student unions and other organisations to coordinate permissions and logistical arrangements for the protests. CJP also asked participants to publicly read out the students' demands during the demonstrations.