CJP Protest in Delhi Live Updates: Opposition MPs stopped from meeting Sonam Wangchuk at Gurugram hospital

Union Health Minister JP Nadda is scheduled to address the media at 8:30 PM on Wednesday, with the ongoing CJP protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar expected to feature prominently in his remarks.

The briefing comes amid continuing demonstrations over the alleged paper leak issue and growing political attention on the agitation.

Nadda recently held meetings with CJP leaders as well as activist Sonam Wangchuk, who is currently undergoing treatment at a Gurugram hospital after his indefinite fast.

Sonam Wangchuk’s wife, Dr Gitanjali Angmo, on Wednesday questioned the heavy police presence outside Medanta Hospital in Gurugram, saying the activist had been shifted there from Safdarjung Hospital under a Delhi High Court order for better medical care and without any detention.

She alleged that despite the court’s observations, the continued police deployment was causing unnecessary stress to Wangchuk, who has been on a 25-day fast.

Angmo also criticised the authorities for preventing Opposition MPs from meeting Wangchuk, claiming they had brought a letter signed by several parliamentarians requesting him to end his fast.

Haryana Police on Wednesday said that only blood relatives of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk are being allowed to meet him at Medanta Hospital in Gurugram, citing the hospital’s visitor protocol. The clarification came after members of the INDIA bloc were stopped from entering the hospital to meet Wangchuk.

According to the police, the restriction was based on instructions from the hospital authorities, who have permitted visits only by family members while Wangchuk remains under medical care.

Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray on Wednesday expressed support for students protesting over the alleged paper leak issue, saying they were seeking accountability in the education system.

He accused the Centre of responding with “arrogance” instead of addressing the concerns raised by students and demanded greater accountability from the government.

Samajwadi Party MP Priya Saroj on Wednesday said the Opposition delegation would not leave until it was allowed to meet activist Sonam Wangchuk at Medanta Hospital in Gurugram.

She questioned the authorities over the denial of access, saying the MPs would remain at the spot “whether it is night or morning” until they were permitted to meet him.

Saroj also challenged the authorities to explain the “medical protocol” cited for restricting their visit.

Olympian wrestler Bajrang Punia on Wednesday joined the CJP-led protest at Jantar Mantar in support of the agitation over the alleged paper leak issue. According to the organisation, Punia demanded the immediate resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and called for an end to what it described as police brutality against protesters.

A delegation of Opposition MPs was stopped by the police from meeting education reformer and climate activist Sonam Wangchuk at Medanta Hospital in Gurugram on Wednesday. The leaders had arrived at the hospital to enquire about Wangchuk’s health following his admission.

Police prevented the delegation from entering the hospital premises.

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) on Wednesday announced that all 17 Metro stations that had been temporarily closed due to security reasons have now been reopened.

Passenger entry and exit have resumed at all the affected stations, restoring normal Metro operations across the network.

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on Wednesday said it would continue its nationwide agitation until the Centre accepts its three key demands, reiterating that the protest will not be withdrawn unless concrete action is taken.

The CJP repeated its demand for Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation over the alleged paper leak issue, ₹1 crore compensation for the families of students who allegedly died by suicide, and an assurance that no peaceful protesters would face prosecution or legal action.

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) on Wednesday announced that the entry gates at Mandi House and Central Secretariat Metro stations have been reopened for passengers. The update comes after access to the stations was temporarily restricted amid heightened security in the national capital.

In the letter dated July 22, Wangchuk said the ministers (JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh) had assured him during their meeting that the government would positively consider adequate compensation for the families of students who allegedly died by suicide following the paper leak controversy.

He also said they had assured him that Parliament would hold a meaningful discussion on the issue, including consideration of the resignation of the Union Education Minister to ensure accountability.

Education reformer and climate activist Sonam Wangchuk has written to Union ministers JP Nadda and Dr Jitendra Singh, thanking them for visiting him in hospital but making it clear that he will end his indefinite fast only after the Centre gives a firm assurance that no action will be taken against young protesters who participated in the recent movement over the alleged examination paper leak.

Addressing a press conference at the AICC headquarters, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said the Opposition had a responsibility to stand with students protesting over the paper leak issue, asserting that if students were on the streets, the Opposition should be there alongside them.

He accused the Centre of trying to divert attention from the core issue and said the focus should remain on students and their demands for accountability.

Gandhi also criticised the affordability of India’s education system, claiming that while the Union government had allocated around ₹1.4 lakh crore for education in its Budget, students collectively spent nearly ₹1.32 lakh crore on preparing for a single Neet examination. He said the figures reflected the growing financial burden on students and underscored the need for reforms in the education system.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday downplayed the injuries he sustained during Tuesday’s protest, saying such incidents were a small price to pay for representing the voice of the people.

He remarked that he was “used to getting punched” and said his responsibility was to express the will of the people, regardless of the personal cost.

Calling it a privilege to stand up for public concerns, Gandhi said it was a “huge honour” to represent the people’s aspirations.

A 21-year-old woman injured in the reported protest-related incident is showing signs of recovery at Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital in New Delhi, according to the hospital.

Doctors said she has been taken off ventilator support, is breathing on her own, remains conscious, and is responding to commands. The hospital added that her brain and spine MRI scans are normal, and she continues to be kept under close medical supervision.

Education reformer and climate activist Sonam Wangchuk has been admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Medanta Hospital in Gurugram, the hospital said in a health update on Wednesday. According to the statement, Wangchuk is currently being treated by a multidisciplinary team of doctors.

The hospital said Wangchuk is stable, conscious and oriented, with his vital signs remaining within accepted parameters. It added that all medical treatment being administered is being carried out with his informed consent and that he continues to remain under close observation.

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday sought responses from the Centre and Delhi Police on a batch of petitions alleging the use of excessive force against protesters during the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)-led march to Parliament earlier this week.

The petitions questioned the police action and sought judicial intervention over the alleged crackdown on demonstrators.

Hearing the matter, a bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia observed that the allegations raised in the petitions could not be treated as isolated incidents warranting only private complaints by individual victims.

Maharashtra BJP president Ravindra Chavan on Wednesday described the CJP-led protest in Delhi as a “sponsored” agitation, claiming that those behind the demonstration would be exposed in the coming days.

He alleged that the protest was politically motivated and said its true nature would soon become clear.

Targeting the Opposition, Chavan claimed that parties in the INDIA bloc were attempting to derive political mileage from the agitation despite pursuing different agendas.

The BJP on Wednesday launched a fresh attack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over the protest near Prime Minister house, accusing him of engaging in “anarchic behaviour” by holding the demonstration at a location that was not designated for protests.

The party said there was no objection to peaceful demonstrations but maintained that they should be conducted only at approved venues in accordance with established rules.

The BJP further alleged that Rahul Gandhi deliberately chose the location to attract public attention and create a political spectacle rather than register a genuine protest.

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday sought responses from the Centre and Delhi Police on petitions alleging the use of excessive force against protesters during the July 20 march to Parliament.

While hearing the matter, the court directed authorities to preserve CCTV camera footage and videography recorded by the police during the protest, saying the material should be retained until further orders.

The BJP on Wednesday hit back at the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) over its criticism of the Centre on the paper leak issue, accusing the party of remaining silent on an alleged recruitment exam scam in Punjab.

BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya claimed that while AAP projected itself as fighting for students, it had not raised similar concerns over the alleged leak in the Punjab Pharmacist recruitment examination.

In a post on X, Malviya said Punjab Police had arrested seven alleged kingpins and 28 candidates in connection with the cheating racket. According to the investigation, a hidden pen camera was allegedly used to leak the question paper, while answers were transmitted live through Bluetooth earpieces.

The Centre on Wednesday defended the police action during the CJP protest before the Delhi High Court, arguing that the demonstration was not peaceful and that some members of the crowd had resorted to violence, News18 reported.

According to the report, appearing for the government, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) told the court that the petitions challenging the police action were “publicity-seeking” and pointed out that none of the individuals who were allegedly assaulted by the police had filed an FIR or approached the court with a petition.

The matter came up during the hearing on pleas questioning the police response to the protest.

Samajwadi Party MP Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday backed the Opposition’s demand for Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation over the paper leak controversy, saying any discussion in Parliament should take place only after he steps down.

Yadav said the Opposition, students and youth were united in their demand, adding that the issue was not confined to a single examination and that the concerns raised by students should be addressed by the government.

The Rajya Sabha was adjourned for the day on Wednesday amid sustained protests by Opposition members over the Neet paper leak.

The Opposition continued to demand the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and sought accountability for the police action against protesters a day earlier.

The disruption came even as the government reiterated its readiness to hold a discussion on the issue.

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on Wednesday said it is willing to meet Union Minister JP Nadda, provided the talks are held at a “neutral venue” near Jantar Mantar.

CJP spokesperson Saurav Das said the party has conveyed its willingness to hold another round of discussions and is awaiting the government’s response.

Das said the venue change was suggested if the government had security concerns about the protest site. However, he stressed that the talks would be meaningful only if the Centre was genuinely willing to consider the protesters’ demands.

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on Wednesday appealed to Sonam Wangchuk to end his hunger strike, saying his sacrifice had inspired an entire generation of students.

In a message posted on X, the organisation urged him to take care of his health and assured him that the movement for examination justice would continue with greater strength until its demands are fulfilled.

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on Wednesday rejected an invitation to hold talks at health minister JP Nadda’s residence, saying ministers should instead “come to the People’s Court.”

BJP Kerala president Rajeev Chandrasekhar on Tuesday accused the Congress of trying to “create a conspiracy” over the Neet paper leak issue, claiming the party was doing so because it could not come to power through democratic means.

He said the Centre had already ordered a CBI investigation, conducted a re-examination and that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had upheld students’ right to protest, asserting that the government had acted on the matter.

Speaking in the Rajya Sabha, Leader of the Opposition and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said that a fair discussion on Neet paper leak is not possible until Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigns from his post.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on adjourned the House for the day as protests continue over paper leak.

Opposition leaders kept on demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the paper leak issue. It also demanded accountability over the police action against protesters a day earlier.

Meanwhile, the government said it is ready to hold discussion on the issue. Parliamentary Affairs minister Kiren Rijiju said the Speaker should call an all-party meeting to discuss the timing and duration of the debate.