The Jantar Mantar protest over the NEET paper leak turned into one of the largest and most disruptive demonstrations in central Delhi in recent years on Monday, as tens of thousands of students, young professionals and activists marched toward Parliament demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The unrest on the streets was mirrored inside Parliament, where the Opposition used the first day of the monsoon session to corner the government over repeated paper leaks and exam irregularities.
Quick Facts
- Who: Students, youth groups, activist Sonam Wangchuk, Delhi Police, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Opposition leaders
- What: Jantar Mantar protest over the NEET paper leak and exam irregularities, marked by clashes with police
- When: Monday, the first day of Parliament’s monsoon session
- Where: Jantar Mantar, Parliament Street and multiple central Delhi locations
- Why it matters: The protest reflects growing student and youth anger over repeated paper leaks and exam irregularities, and has now disrupted parliamentary proceedings
What triggered the Jantar Mantar Protest?
Massive protest outside Parliament marked the opening day of the monsoon session, as a large gathering of demonstrators moved toward central Delhi demanding accountability for the NEET paper leak. A hunger strike at Jantar Mantar, which had been running for 25 days, became a rallying point as tens of thousands of people converged on Parliament Street, leaving behind police barricades, tear gas and gridlock across large parts of the capital.
How did the protest turn into a clash with police?
Delhi Police shut five key metro stations from 9 am and suspended mobile internet in parts of central Delhi between 10:30 am and 6 pm as a precautionary measure. Despite barricades placed on ten arterial roads, activists, students, young adult professionals and their parents poured into the area around Parliament Street from daybreak.
By afternoon, protesters and police were engaged in pitched confrontations across bylanes and roundabouts in the area, with Connaught Place, Patel Chowk, Raisina Road, the stretch outside Parliament, India Gate, Ashoka Road and APJ Abdul Kalam Road turning into flashpoints. Tear gas was used to disperse protesters at multiple points, and visuals from the scene showed agitators attempting to push through barricades as they tried to march closer to Parliament.
Delhi Police alleged that protesters participating in the march organised under the banner of the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) turned unruly, aggressive and violent, leaving more than 118 police personnel, including several senior officers, injured. Protesters rejected the charge and accused the police of an unprovoked attack. The exact number of injured protesters was not immediately known, though reports suggested the figure could be over 60.
Why was Parliament disrupted?
Inside Parliament, the Opposition sought to turn the tables on the government over the paper leak controversy and the treatment of student protesters. Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, accused the government of suppressing the protests at Jantar Mantar. He said the issue concerned the future of lakhs of students and that thousands of children had gathered at Jantar Mantar, where a lathi-charge had taken place, alleging that the government was attempting to obstruct the movement.
Both Houses of Parliament remained disrupted for much of Monday as the standoff over the protests and the paper leak issue continued.
What did PM Modi say before the session began?
In his customary address before the start of the session, Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the achievements of India’s young people, citing the country’s youth as having contributed to milestones such as the maiden orbital launch of Vikram-1, India’s first privately developed launch vehicle, by Skyroot Aerospace. He said the message sent by the country’s youth reflected their potential and aspirations.
The Prime Minister said he remained firmly convinced that where there were facts and logic, there was no room for what he described as manufactured storms, in an apparent reference to the ongoing protests and Opposition criticism. He also made an oblique reference to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi without naming him directly. Modi expressed hope for a productive monsoon session in which every viewpoint would be respected.
Why is Sonam Wangchuk continuing his hunger strike?
Activist Sonam Wangchuk said on Monday that he would continue his indefinite hunger strike, which entered its 23rd day, until youth leaders are allowed to meet members of Parliament or parliamentarians visit him at the hospital. In a handwritten note shared on Instagram, Wangchuk said peaceful protesters were being subjected to what he called brutality and appealed to the government to facilitate dialogue. He said he had decided to continue his fast until youth leaders are permitted to meet parliamentarians inside Sansad Bhawan, or until parliamentarians are allowed to meet him at the hospital.
Is the government in talks with the protesters?
Union minister J P Nadda held talks with two representatives of the Cockroach Janata Party, identified as Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, and said the government had been approached by the group to present its demands. In a post on X, Nadda described the meeting as cordial, saying an initial verbal discussion was followed by a written request submitted by the delegation. He did not indicate whether the government had accepted any of the group’s demands. Saurav Das said the delegation had conveyed its demands, including the immediate resignation or removal of Dharmendra Pradhan, and that the minister had assured them the matter would be discussed at the appropriate level.
With both Houses of Parliament disrupted through Monday, multiple rounds of dialogue were held involving Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Dharmendra Pradhan, and Union ministers Kiren Rijiju and Piyush Goyal, along with BJP president J P Nadda. The leaders involved maintained silence on the details of these discussions, though a government functionary said steps had already been taken to address lapses in the conduct of examinations.
What is the background behind the NEET paper leak anger?
The protests come against a backdrop of recurring complaints over paper leaks and irregularities in competitive examinations, particularly the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), which determines admission to medical colleges across India. Anger over exam integrity has periodically triggered large-scale student mobilisation in the past, with Jantar Mantar traditionally serving as a focal point for such demonstrations in the capital.
What are the positive steps taken so far?
The government’s decision to hold talks through Union minister J P Nadda with representatives of the protesting group indicates an attempt at engagement rather than confrontation alone.
However, today, Abhijeet Dipke has criticized the talks between BJP president JP Nadda and the CJP team, alleging that the meeting only wasted their time and that the plan was to scatter the protesters. His remarks have intensified the political row over the handling of the demonstration and raised questions about whether the discussions were aimed at finding a solution or delaying the movement. He has also said the government should come to Jantar Mantar if it wants to hold talks with protesters.
What concerns does this Jantar Mantar Protest raise?
The scale of disruption, including the shutdown of five metro stations, suspension of mobile internet for over seven hours, and injuries to more than a hundred police personnel along with injured protesters, points to significant gaps in de-escalation during the demonstration. The sharply contested accounts, with police alleging violence by protesters and protesters alleging unprovoked police action, highlight the need for an independent and transparent account of how the clashes unfolded.
Attention will now turn to whether the government responds formally to the demands presented by protester representatives, whether Sonam Wangchuk’s hunger strike is resolved through the dialogue he has sought, and whether parliamentary proceedings normalise in the days ahead or remain disrupted over the paper leak issue.
The Jantar Mantar protest over the NEET paper leak has placed the government under sustained pressure both on the streets and inside Parliament. With talks between government representatives and protester groups now underway and Sonam Wangchuk’s hunger strike continuing, further developments are expected in the coming days as both sides seek a resolution.
FAQs
The protest was driven by anger over the NEET paper leak and broader exam irregularities, with demonstrators demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
Reports indicate tens of thousands of people, including students, young professionals and activists, marched toward Parliament Street from Jantar Mantar and surrounding areas.
Delhi Police shut five key metro stations from 9 am and suspended mobile internet in parts of central Delhi between 10:30 am and 6 pm, in addition to placing barricades on ten arterial roads.
Delhi Police said more than 118 personnel, including several senior officers, were injured during the protest, which police alleged had turned violent.
Delhi police said around 60 protesters, were injured on Monday when they clashed in central Delhi.
However, the founder of the self-named Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) said more than 150 protesters were undergoing treatment in hospital.
Union minister J P Nadda held talks with representatives of the protesting group, and further rounds of dialogue reportedly took place involving Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Dharmendra Pradhan and other senior ministers.
Yes, both Houses of Parliament remained disrupted for much of Monday as the standoff over the NEET paper leak issue and the treatment of protesters continued.