CJP protest LIVE: While the protest site had remained largely peaceful on Wednesday, tensions escalated on the Sansad Marg stretchCJP protest LIVE: Tight security measures continued at the Jantar Mantar with a contingent of police deployed at the site, a day after tensions escalated again amid the ongoing protest led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP). 16 metro stations were closed from 7.30 am till further instructions, DMRC said on Thursday. These include Rajiv Chowk, Mandi House, Central Secretariat and Supreme Court metro stations. The DMRC a day earlier too shut 16 metro stations.The CJP early on Thursday claimed the Delhi Police had parked a “totally damaged car” outside the protest site, questioning their intention. “Everyone should remember this car has been brought here in this condition - important to record before they can blame it on peaceful protesters,” the CJP said, sharing visuals of the vehicle, which was seen with its windows and windshield shattered. While the protest site had remained largely peaceful on Wednesday, tensions escalated on the Sansad Marg stretch, with clashes breaking out between protesters and police. While security personnel used tear gas shells for protesters who had spilled on to Sansad Marg, the protesters pelted stones at police personnel and chased them on the main radial road of Connaught Place. According to the Delhi Police, at least five cops - 2 ACPs, one inspector, one head constable and one constable, were injured in the fresh tensions. The CJP on Wednesday also alleged that internet services were shut down around Jantar Mantar, asking whether the government was preparing for another police crackdown. “Internet service shutdown at Jantar Mantar. Govt planning another brutal crackdown?” CJP convenor Abhijeet Dipke said in a post on X. In another post, Dipke appealed to police and paramilitary forces to not “obey illegal orders that ask you to beat up innocent protesters.” CJP spokesperson Saurav Das reiterated the demand for union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan, saying it was non-negotiable. Das said he had spoken to activist Sonam Wangchuk, who has been on an indefinite fast and is at the Medanta Hospital, several times. Das said the conclusion was that the protest remain peaceful, and be conducted “in a right manner.” “Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation is non-negotiable. Without this, the protest will continue,” Das said. Wangchuk says govt assured demand will be considered ‘positively’ Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk on Wednesday claimed that union ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh met him and assured that the government would "positively consider" a Parliament discussion to ensure accountability over paper leaks, including the resignation of the education minister. He said the government had assured it would also consider adequate compensation for the families of students who died by suicide following the alleged NEET paper leak. However, Wangchuk said he would end his hunger strike only if the government gave an "unequivocal assurance" that no student or protester who participated in the anti-NEET movement would face punitive or retaliatory legal action. ‘No discussion on paper leaks till education minister resigns’ While the government underscored its willingness to hold a discussion on paper leaks in Parliament, the Opposition demanded the resignation of union education minister Pradhan. “There will be no discussion on the issue till the education minister resigns…It cannot be a fair discussion till he resigns,” Congress chief and Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge said. The opposition MPs, meanwhile, held protests wearing black clothes against the government on Parliament premises. People aware of the matter said the government accused the Opposition of politicising the ongoing student’s stir and said it was shifting “goalposts”, asserting that its doors for dialogue with those leading the protests were “always open”. ...Read MoreThe CJP early on Thursday claimed the Delhi Police had parked a “totally damaged car” outside the protest site, questioning their intention. “Everyone should remember this car has been brought here in this condition - important to record before they can blame it on peaceful protesters,” the CJP said, sharing visuals of the vehicle, which was seen with its windows and windshield shattered. While the protest site had remained largely peaceful on Wednesday, tensions escalated on the Sansad Marg stretch, with clashes breaking out between protesters and police. While security personnel used tear gas shells for protesters who had spilled on to Sansad Marg, the protesters pelted stones at police personnel and chased them on the main radial road of Connaught Place. According to the Delhi Police, at least five cops - 2 ACPs, one inspector, one head constable and one constable, were injured in the fresh tensions. The CJP on Wednesday also alleged that internet services were shut down around Jantar Mantar, asking whether the government was preparing for another police crackdown. “Internet service shutdown at Jantar Mantar. Govt planning another brutal crackdown?” CJP convenor Abhijeet Dipke said in a post on X. In another post, Dipke appealed to police and paramilitary forces to not “obey illegal orders that ask you to beat up innocent protesters.” CJP spokesperson Saurav Das reiterated the demand for union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan, saying it was non-negotiable. Das said he had spoken to activist Sonam Wangchuk, who has been on an indefinite fast and is at the Medanta Hospital, several times. Das said the conclusion was that the protest remain peaceful, and be conducted “in a right manner.” “Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation is non-negotiable. Without this, the protest will continue,” Das said. Wangchuk says govt assured demand will be considered ‘positively’ Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk on Wednesday claimed that union ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh met him and assured that the government would "positively consider" a Parliament discussion to ensure accountability over paper leaks, including the resignation of the education minister. He said the government had assured it would also consider adequate compensation for the families of students who died by suicide following the alleged NEET paper leak. However, Wangchuk said he would end his hunger strike only if the government gave an "unequivocal assurance" that no student or protester who participated in the anti-NEET movement would face punitive or retaliatory legal action. ‘No discussion on paper leaks till education minister resigns’ While the government underscored its willingness to hold a discussion on paper leaks in Parliament, the Opposition demanded the resignation of union education minister Pradhan. “There will be no discussion on the issue till the education minister resigns…It cannot be a fair discussion till he resigns,” Congress chief and Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge said. The opposition MPs, meanwhile, held protests wearing black clothes against the government on Parliament premises. People aware of the matter said the government accused the Opposition of politicising the ongoing student’s stir and said it was shifting “goalposts”, asserting that its doors for dialogue with those leading the protests were “always open”. Follow all the updates here:Jul 23, 2026, 07:34:08 ISTCJP protest LIVE: CJP spokesperson Saurav Das said he spoke to activist Sonam Wangchuk several times on Wednesday.“The conclusion was that this peaceful protest should remain peaceful. He has also publicly appealed to all protesters to maintain peace and conduct this protest in the right manner…” Das said. He added, “In previous protests in this country, anti-social elements planted by the ruling regime infiltrate and derail the entire protest, then ultimately, those protesting peacefully are blamed, and this should not happen.”Jul 23, 2026, 07:27:55 ISTCJP protest LIVE: The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation on Thursday said 16 metro stations will be closed from 7.30 am till further instructions. These include:1. Lok Kalyan Marg2. Rajiv Chowk3. Patel Chowk4. Ramakrishna Ashram Marg5. Barakhambha Road6. Supreme Court7. Seva Teerth8. Janpath9. Mandi House10. Central Secretariat11. ITO12. Delhi Gate13. Indraprastha14. Khan Market15. Jor Bagh16. Shivaji StadiumHowever, DMRC said interchange facility would remain available at Rajiv Chowk, Mandi House and Central Secretariat.Jul 23, 2026, 07:17:22 ISTCJP protest LIVE: CJP spokesperson Saurav Das, referring to union minister JP Nadda's press conference Thursday, said “should be ashamed”. "People have been sitting here for over 30 days...," Das said. "He is the one doing the politics... Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation is non-negotiable... Without this, the protest will continue. It will continue for as long as it has to," Das said.