Activist Sonam Wangchuk on Friday rejected allegations that he had cut a deal with the Union government to end his hunger strike a day earlier.This came as the Cockroach Janta Party political campaign continued its demonstrations at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar protest site to demand the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged irregularities in the conduct of competitive exams.Solidarity protests were held in several cities on Friday.Here’s more on this and other updates: Sonam Wangchuk rejects ‘deal’ allegationsIn a video message on Friday night, Wangchuk said that he did not press for Pradhan’s resignation because it had become inevitable because of the ongoing protests. “Instead, I focused on getting justice for the students and young people against whom FIRs [first information reports] have been registered,” he said.The activist had ended his fast after midnight on Friday in the presence of Union ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh. Wangchuk said that he wanted Opposition MPs and members of the Cockroach Janta Party to meet him in hospital but that they had not been allowed.Delhi metro stations closed, Jantar Mantar protest continuesThe protest at Jantar Mantar continued on Saturday. Abhijeet Dipke, the founder of the Cockroach Janta Party, said that he had been diagnosed with typhoid, but “the fight will go on” until Pradhan resigns.Meanwhile, 18 Delhi metro stations were closed at 7.30 am on Saturday till further instructions. The stations include Lok Kalyan Marg, which is near the prime minister’s residence, and Patel Chowk and Janpath that are near Jantar Mantar.The other stations were Rajiv Chowk, Ramakrishna Ashram Marg, Barakhambha Road, Supreme Court, Central Secretariat, Seva Teerth, Mandi House, ITO, Delhi Gate, Indraprastha, Khan Market, Jor Bagh, Shivaji Stadium, Jhandewalan and New Delhi. However, the interchange facility was available at Rajiv Chowk, Mandi House and Central Secretariat.#WATCH | Delhi Metro Rail Corporation announced closure of 18 metro stations from 7.30 AM today till further instructions. Visuals from New Delhi Metro Station, one of the 18 stations, which has been shut. Interchange facility to remain available at Rajiv Chowk, Mandi House… pic.twitter.com/D9cfZ5dywC— ANI (@ANI) July 25, 2026