NEW DELHI: The confrontation over NEET paper leak widened on Thursday, with the opposition taking its protest to the streets even as the Centre and the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) remained locked in a disagreement over fresh talks.The standoff between the Centre and the CJP deepened as both sides disagreed over the venue for fresh talks, even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced fast-track courts to ensure speedy punishment in paper leak cases.While the government reiterated that it was ready for dialogue and invited the protesters for talks at Union health minister JP Nadda‘s residence or office, the CJP rejected the proposal, insisting that any meeting should either be held at Jantar Mantar or at a mutually agreed neutral venue. Here are the top developments:
Centre appoints Naresh Gangwar as new Education Secretary
The Centre appointed senior IAS officer Naresh Gangwar, a 1994-batch Rajasthan cadre officer, as the new Secretary in the Department of School Education and Literacy, replacing Vineet Joshi as part of a bureaucratic reshuffle. Gangwar, who was serving as Secretary in the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, has held several senior positions in the Rajasthan government and the Centre. The government did not specify any reason for the change. The appointment comes amid continuing protests over the alleged NEET paper leak and demands for reforms in the examination system.
Delhi HC notifies fast-track court for paper leak cases
The Delhi high court designated the court of Judicial Officer Anu Grover Baliga at the Rouse Avenue Court Complex as a Specially Designated Fast Track Court to hear cases under the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024 and related offences with immediate effect. The notification came hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that fast-track courts would be set up to ensure swift trials and stringent punishment in paper leak cases amid ongoing protests over the alleged NEET paper leak.
17 Delhi Metro stations to remain closed from Friday morning
The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) announced that 17 Metro stations will remain closed from 7:30 am on Friday (July 24) until further orders. While entry and exit will not be permitted at these stations, interchange facilities will continue to be available at Rajiv Chowk, Mandi House and Central Secretariat. The affected stations include Lok Kalyan Marg, Rajiv Chowk, Patel Chowk, Ramakrishna Ashram Marg, Barakhambha Road, Supreme Court, Seva Teerth, Janpath, Mandi House, Central Secretariat, ITO, Delhi Gate, Indraprastha, Khan Market, Jor Bagh, Shivaji Stadium and Jhandewalan.
Sonam Wangchuk urges peaceful protests on Day 26 of hunger strike
Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, who is on the 26th day of his indefinite hunger strike, appealed to supporters to maintain peace amid the ongoing protests. In a post on X, he said he was pained to learn that ‘antisocial elements’ were trying to provoke violence elsewhere, even as the demonstrations at Jantar Mantar remained peaceful. ‘While at Jantar Mantar the protests remain peaceful I’m pained to learn that elsewhere some antisocial elements are taking advantage of the peaceful protests to provoke violence. No matter what the other side does our response must only be flowers. Please keep this tradition at all costs,’ he wrote.
Rahul Gandhi along with opposition leaders pay tribute
Rahul Gandhi, along with Congress and other INDIA bloc leaders, paid homage at Gandhi Smriti to students who allegedly died by suicide over NEET examination paper leaks.The opposition said the tribute was dedicated to the memory of the students and vowed to continue its fight for justice for them.
INDIA bloc leaders reach Gandhi Smriti
Buses carrying INDIA bloc MPs, including Rahul Gandhi arrived at Gandhi Smriti, where opposition leaders will pay tributes to the students who committed suicide over the alleged NEET paper leak.This comes as earlier, opposition leaders were stopped from vising the Gandhi Smriti. “To the memory of those students who are no longer among us Towards Gandhi Smriti,” Congress handle wrote in a post on X. In a post on X, Rahul wrote: “No one can stop us from standing with the students of India.”After reaching Gandhi Smriti, Rahul said: “Our leader Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated over here. Today, the Modi government is assassinating democracy in India, brutalizing students, and beating students. The Opposition is not going to accept this. We are with the students, and Mr. Narendra Modi has to remove the Education Minister and apologize.”Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said, “What Mahatma Gandhi did, and what our farmers and the poor did, was a truly unique revolution. A truly unique movement because no one was ever harmed. Today, in that very country, you’re beating children because they’re demanding their rights. So, we all see how much is going wrong, and our country’s democracy, for which Gandhiji was martyred, for which so many people were martyred. Today, in this very country, we’re seeing democracy is being destroyed… Those who wear uniforms, who stand on your borders. For what? So that their children can be beaten. Why? Because their exam papers are being leaked. They are demanding their rights and justice for this.”
Rahul claims INDIA bloc march stopped by police
Rahul Gandhi claimed that he and INDIA bloc MPs were prevented from proceeding to Gandhi Smriti by security personnel after they were denied permission to march to India Gate.“Our students are on the road, so all the opposition MPs felt that we should also be on the road. All the opposition MPs wanted to go to India Gate. They refused, stopped us. Then we said that we want to go Tees January( Gandhi Smriti). They have put the bus here and left it. We are not able to go ahead but the main message is to the students. We are with you.”The Congress MP also claimed that the bus carrying them to Gandhi Smriti was parked, after which the driver got off and left it there.Congress MP Renuka Chowdhury said, “Why should we explain this to such a stubborn government? Have they ever gone there (Gandhi Smriti)?… They (government) do not have the courage to come out and talk.”“This is the power of Gandhi. This is Gandhi’s country. We are marching peacefully to Gandhi Smriti to raise our voices for the youth. Who could object to that?” Congress leader Supriya Srinate said.
INDIA bloc heads to Gandhi Smriti
After the INDIA bloc meeting concluded, Rahul Gandhi said alliance MPs and leaders were heading to Gandhi Smriti on Tees January Marg to pay tribute to students who died by suicide following the NEET paper leak and to express solidarity with those injured during the recent protests. Rahul along with several other opposition MPs boarded the bus to leave for Gandhi Smriti from his residence. In a post on X, Gandhi wrote, “Right now, MPs and leaders of the INDIA alliance are peacefully heading to Gandhi Smriti on Tees January Marg. We go to remember the students we lost – the children driven to take their own lives after the NEET paper leak. And we go to stand with the students who lie injured today – beaten for peacefully demanding justice and accountability. India’s students are not alone. The entire Opposition stands with them and their demands.“Meanwhile, security was also tightened outside Dharmendra Pradhan’s residence.
Opposition huddle at Rahul’s residence
Several INDIA bloc leaders arrived at Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi’s residence for a meeting amid the ongoing row over the NEET paper leak and student protests. As senior leaders gathered, police presence outside Rahul Gandhi’s residence was stepped up. Venugopal alleged that Delhi had been turned into a “war-like situation”, while Kharge quipped that he had been invited for “tea”. “Sahab invited for tea. That’s why I have come to have tea,” Kharge said. Congress leader P Chidambaram, Sonia Gandhi, TMC MPs Kalyan Banerjee and Mahua Moitra and Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Arvind Sawant also arrived for the meeting. A bus carrying Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel also arrived outside the residence of Congress MP Rahul Gandhi in Delhi amid the ongoing protests. Congress MP Amrinder Singh Raja Warring after arriving at the residence of Rahul Gandhi said, “If we reveal our plan, the enemy is very alert. Delhi Police, Amit Shah ji’s people, have come here already. We will fight, and we will win.”RJD MP Manoj Jha after arriving at Rahul’s residence said, “Look at what is happening at Jantar Mantar and in different states. There is so much unrest among the youth…In the coming moments, you will know what we are doing…I am worried after seeing the condition of the country.”
Mobile internet suspended around Jantar Mantar till midnight
The Union home ministry extended the suspension of mobile internet services within a 1.5-km radius of Jantar Mantar till midnight, citing “public safety” and the need to avert a public emergency. The restriction comes as the CJP continues its protest demanding education minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation over the alleged NEET paper leak. This is the fifth such suspension order issued since July 17.
Centre renews offer for talks, CJP rejects venue proposed by govt
The Centre once again invited the protesting students for dialogue after an earlier meeting between Union health minister JP Nadda and CJP representatives failed to break the deadlock.Union minister Jitendra Singh said the government had made multiple offers for talks over the past 24 hours and was willing to discuss all issues related to the protests.“We are ready to discuss the issue on which the agitation has happened, and all the other related issues as well. The talks can be held with an open mind at the residence of Union health minister JP Nadda… The talks could be held at Nadda’s residence or at the office,” Singh said.JP Nadda also reiterated that the government remained open to discussions.
CJP demands neutral venue, seeks ‘concrete outcome’
Responding to the government’s offer, CJP spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka said the protesters had no objection to talks but would not attend a meeting at the residence of a Union minister.He said the CJP had earlier suggested that both sides agree on a neutral venue after the government conveyed its reluctance to visit Jantar Mantar.“Yesterday, they told us, ‘Please don’t ask us to come to Jantar Mantar. It will create problems for us because people are very angry.’ So we said, ‘Alright, neither your place nor ours. Let’s find a neutral venue where we can meet.’ Since they seem reluctant to come to Jantar Mantar, we suggested that they recommend any neutral location that is neither their residence nor Jantar Mantar.”Ranka said the protesters had rejected the proposal to meet at JP Nadda’s residence or office.“Even now, Union minister Jitendra Singh is saying that the meeting can take place either at JP Nadda’s office or his residence. But the people have rejected that proposal. If a meeting is to take place, it will not be held at Nadda’s residence. It should either be at Jantar Mantar or at some other neutral venue.”He also said the protesters wanted meaningful negotiations instead of assurances.“We have also placed a second condition before the government. This time, we don’t want empty assurances. If you are holding talks with us, there has to be something concrete… If you are inviting us for talks, we expect some concrete outcome.”CJP spokesperson Saurav Das said, “Union Minister Jitendra Singh said that we can hold talks anywhere; then we have already made our suggestion. Come to Jantar Mantar or to a neutral venue like the Constitution Club of India. We will meet there. I have not received any message from their side yet…They should contact us directly and discuss where to meet, when to meet, and how long the discussion will continue.”
Passport action warning
Delhi Police said that people found to be directly involved in the violence during the Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP) protest could face cancellation of their passports.According to PTI, the move comes after clashes near Jantar Mantar left several police personnel injured. Police said investigations are underway to identify those involved in the assault on officers and damage to public property.
CJP announces nationwide protests on July 24
The Cockroach Janta Party announced that it would organise nationwide protests on July 24 as its agitation entered another phase.The organisation maintained that the resignation of Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan remained its primary demand and said the movement would continue until the government accepted its key demands, including accountability for the alleged paper leak and withdrawal of FIRs against peaceful protesters.
PM Modi announces fast-track courts for paper leak cases
Amid the continuing protests, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that the Centre would establish fast-track courts to ensure swift trials and stringent punishment for those involved in examination paper leaks.In a post on X, PM Modi said the government had directed authorities to take all necessary steps to safeguard students’ interests.“Nothing is more important than the welfare and future of our youth. We have decided to set up fast-track courts to ensure swift and stringent punishment for those involved in paper leaks… Those who try to harm the future of our youth will not be spared,” he said.Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, however, criticised the announcement, accusing the government of failing to protect the education system and reiterating the Opposition’s demand for Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation.
Anna Hazare begins silent protest in support of students
Veteran social activist Anna Hazare on Thursday began a maun andolan (silent protest) in Maharashtra’s Ahilyanagar in support of students protesting over the alleged examination irregularities.Hazare had earlier backed the student movement and urged the government to address concerns over alleged paper leaks and restore public confidence in the examination system.His protest comes as demonstrations continue at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar despite heightened security and repeated clashes between protesters and police.
Parliament remains paralysed over paper leak issue
Parliament witnessed another day of disruptions as both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha were adjourned repeatedly amid protests by Opposition MPs demanding the resignation of education minister Dharmendra Pradhan.The government maintained that it was ready to hold a discussion on the issue without any preconditions, while the Opposition insisted that Pradhan must resign before any debate could take place.Parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju said the government was prepared to hold discussions for any duration the Opposition wanted, but accused opposition parties of avoiding a debate by insisting on resignation first.
Centre likely to convene floor leaders’ meeting
Government sources said the Centre is likely to convene a meeting of floor leaders to finalise a discussion on the paper leak issue in Parliament.According to the sources, the government has urged opposition parties to participate in the debate without linking it to the resignation of the education minister.The move comes as the Centre continues efforts to break both the parliamentary deadlock and the impasse with the CJP over the ongoing protests.
