Jantar Mantar Protest Live Updates: Round 3 of CJP-Centre talks likely today; protesters stick to Pradhan-resignation demand

The CJP delegation is likely to hold meeting with government representatives again on Saturday. The Friday's meeting tool place with Union Ministers J P Nadda and Jitendra Singh at the Constitution Club.

Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) leader Ashutosh Ranka on Saturday said the talks with the government was fruitful, but added that the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan remains the top demand. Providing details on Friday’s meet, the CJP leader said there has been a positive development on the demands regarding compensation and revoking cases against protestors. He, however, added: “If he (Pradhan) does not resign, the government should state it clearly, as there is no point in continuing these meetings.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi late on Friday thanked everyone for the responses and positive suggestions received to his video, where he announced the government’s decision to bring a strict law to punish those involved in paper leaks. In the video message, Modi said that a new bill incorporating provisions for strong action against paper leaks will be introduced in the ongoing session of Parliament next week.

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This comes after the Union Cabinet approved a draft bill to ensure stricter punishments – 10 years’ jail for paper leaks, fine up to Rs 10 crore. The draft bill was approved in a cabinet meeting chaired by the prime minister at the Parliament House complex. The bill seeks an amendment to the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024 and proposes a minimum punishment of five years’ imprisonment for individuals involved in paper leaks and/or a fine.

Meanwhile, the protest continues at Jantar Mantar in the national capital and across the country as protesters continue demanding Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation. The Delhi Traffic Police has advised citizens to avoid unnecessary travel in notified areas and use alternate routes in view of prohibitory orders issued under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023.

18 Metro stations shut today

Delhi Metro has announced that 18 stations in Central Delhi in view of the ongoing protest in the capital. While 16 Metro Stations have been shut since Wednesday, the authorities later shut two more Metro Stations- Jhandewalan and New Delhi.

47 NTA officials sacked

In an overhaul of the National Testing Agency (NTA), 47 officials have been sacked following mass protests over NEET paper leaks. The move comes hours after a government delegation met CJP leaders at Constitution Club.

Live Updates
Jul 25, 2026 09:16 AM IST
Why Centre is not ready to blink as CJP deadline looms

The Cockroach Janta Party has stuck to its demand for Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation and given the government a 24-hour ultimatum, saying it would restart its march to Parliament if the Education Minister did not quit or if he was not removed. The prevailing view in the government, however, remains that the demand should not be met. However, the government is unlikely to budge, leading to a stalemate.

“The government cannot be seen as succumbing to the pressure of any protesting forces or groups. Tomorrow, another group could come up and demand the resignation of other ministers or even the Prime Minister. There will not be any end to it,” said a source following a meeting between senior ministers. Both Das and Ranka are learnt to have informed the ministers that the CJP would go ahead with the proposed “Chalo Sansad” march if Pradhan did not resign in 24 hours. Read full article

Jul 25, 2026 09:08 AM IST
'History will remember your courage': Amol Palekar in open letter to CJP protesters

Veteran actor-director Amol Palekar on Friday joined Bollywood celebrities backing students protesting alleged irregularities in competitive examinations, condemning the police crackdown on demonstrators and offering legal, medical and financial assistance.

In an open letter to the students published in a news daily, Palekar said he was writing "not merely in solidarity, but with gratitude", praising the protesters for carrying forward "the unfinished work of democracy".

"The images of the brutality inflicted upon you have filled us with anguish and anger. A society learns to question itself in its universities. To question those who hold power over your future is not a privilege you seek; it is a democratic responsibility you fulfil," Palekar wrote in the column. "When questions are answered with batons instead of reason, it is not the students who stand diminished. It is the State," he added.

Jul 25, 2026 08:56 AM IST
List of Delhi Metro stations shut on Saturday

According to DMRC social media post, 18 Delhi Metro stations will remain shut on Saturday. However, interchange facility will remain available at Rajiv Chowk, Mandi House and Central Secretariat.

List of 18 stations which are shut on Saturday:

1. Lok Kalyan Marg

2. Rajiv Chowk

3. Patel Chowk

4. Ramakrishna Ashram Marg

5. Barakhambha Road

6. Supreme Court

7. Seva Teerth

8. Janpath

9. Mandi House

10. Central Secretariat

11. ITO

12. Delhi Gate

13. Indraprastha

14. Khan Market

15. Jor Bagh

16. Shivaji Stadium

17. Jhandewalan

18. New Delhi

Jul 25, 2026 08:52 AM IST
What PM Modi said in new late-night video

Hours after he was learnt to have asked his fellow Parliamentarians to utilise Instagram for public outreach on social media platform Instagram, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took the lead in this regard by expressing gratitude to his followers for suggestions which had been sent his way via a (video) reel on his late-night address to the nation a day earlier. PM Modi thanked his “friends” for the suggestions that had been recorded as comments in his late-night address on Thursday, even as his social media activity on Instagram appeared to have become more frequent. Read full story

Jul 25, 2026 08:38 AM IST
Liquor shops to shut by 8 pm in Delhi

Liquor shops in Delhi have been ordered to close by 8 pm until the weekend is over, in view of the student protests, PTI quoted sources as saying. "The shops will now close by 8 pm till the weekend. The decision was taken based on the police inputs flagging the prevailing situation due to the ongoing protest at Jantar Mantar," a senior Delhi government officer said. Liquor shops in the city shut at 10 pm otherwise.

Jul 25, 2026 08:31 AM IST
No purpose of meeting government if Pradhan is not sacked: CJP's Ashutosh Ranka

CJP spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka on Saturday said he has received a positive response from the government regarding compensation to kin of suicide victims and revoking criminal cases against protestors. He said there has been no concrete decision from the government on Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation.

"In yesterday's meeting, we received a positive response regarding compensation and legal cases. We got an in-principle agreement, and we hope to receive the written agreement today as well. However, there has been no concrete decision on our main demand... the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan," Ranka told ANI.

Citing reports claiming that Dharmendra Pradhan is not set to resign, he said the meeting with government delegation serves no purpose if the minister is not sacked. "In fact, what we saw in the mainstream media yesterday, citing sources, was that Dharmendra Pradhan will not resign. If he is not going to resign, then these meetings serve no purpose. In that case, we will move ahead with whatever strategy we decide next. If the government remains adamant, despite the entire country demanding only Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation, and says that he will not resign, then let it be made clear. But if the government continues with this approach, we too will be compelled to take tougher decisions," he added.

Jul 25, 2026 08:17 AM IST
CJP protest: A recap of all that unfolded on Friday

From Sonam Wangchuk's fast to PM Narendra Modi's consecutive late-night video messages and cabinet clearing a bill against paper leak, Friday was a busy day for the CJP protesters and the government. The two sides also held a meeting at the Constitution Club, with the CJP delegation saying there were developments on the talks regarding compensation to victims and revoking cases against demonstrators.

The Parliament also saw protests and disruptions yesterday, with the Opposition sticking to Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation and the Centre calling for a discussion on paper leak. The Union Cabinet meanwhile cleared the bill that will pave the way for harsher punishments for those behind paper leaks.

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