Police used tear gas and lathi-charges against protesters at Jantar Mantar on July 24, 2026, following a press conference by the Cockroach Janta Party.
The crackdown marks a peak in tensions over alleged leaks in the NEET 2026 examination, sparking nationwide demands for accountability within the National Testing Agency.
Members of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), led by Abhijeet Dipke and supported by activists including Sonam Wangchuk and Saurav Das, gathered to demand the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The group alleges that the examination paper was leaked and that Pradhan is responsible for the failure of the testing system.
Security forces responded to the gathering with force, firing tear-gas shells into the crowds. The unrest led to the shutdown of 18 Delhi Metro stations [1] to prevent further gatherings in the city center.
"Thousands of young people, led by the Cockroach Janta Party, have been out on the streets demanding his resignation," a BBC correspondent said [3].
The movement has gained traction among lawmakers, with 65 Members of Parliament visiting the site or signing letters urging the government to take action [2]. In response to the broader leak scandal, the government has already fired 47 NTA officials [2].
Despite the violence, CJP leadership suggests a change in tactics. "We will not march again; the protest will continue through other means," Dipke said [1].
Saurav Das, a CJP spokesperson, said that the goals of the movement remain firm. "The demand for Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation is non-negotiable," Das said [2].
Reports regarding the minister's status remain contradictory. Some reports indicated Pradhan resigned on July 20, 2026 [2], while protests on July 24 continued to demand his departure, suggesting the position was still held [2].
“The demand for Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation is non-negotiable.”
The escalation of the NEET 2026 leak scandal into street protests suggests a deepening crisis of trust in India's national testing infrastructure. The involvement of high-profile activists and a significant number of lawmakers indicates that the issue has moved beyond student grievances to become a broader political challenge regarding the integrity of public examinations.
