Delhi Returns to Normal After NEET Protest: CJP Calls Off Agitation, Metro and Internet Reopen

After more than a week of gridlock, the streets around Jantar Mantar finally began to breathe again. The Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) announced, in what it called a “good‑faith” decision, that it was pulling down its protest tents and ending the hunger strike that had drawn the city’s attention to alleged NEET‑UG paper leaks.

That announcement triggered a rapid roll‑back of the measures that had crippled daily life. Mobile‑data jammers that the administration set up across central Delhi were switched off, and internet connectivity flickered back on for residents and businesses alike. Neighbours who had been shouting at blank screens could once more scroll through news feeds and send messages to friends.

At the same time, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation flung open the gates of every station. “Entry gates of all Metro stations are now open,” a DMRC tweet read, signaling that commuters could finally board trains without having to navigate barricades at Rajiv Chowk, Central Secretariat, Mandi House, ITO and New Delhi.

Police officials, however, urged caution. “Heavy crowds remain in the New Delhi area; please use alternate routes to avoid congestion,” they posted on X, reminding commuters that the city’s arteries would stay clogged for a few more hours.

The protest’s climax came when Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan submitted his resignation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In a brief statement, Pradhan said he stepped down to prevent the movement from being “exploited by anti‑national forces.” His departure was welcomed by the CJP’s chief spokesperson, Saurav Das, who said the party’s withdrawal was predicated on the government’s assurances.

What those assurances entailed? The centre pledged financial compensation for the families of NEET aspirants who had taken their own lives, and it agreed to withdraw all FIRs lodged against protesters across the country. Union Minister JP Nadda also hinted that the government would study the CJP’s five‑point charter on examination reforms and act on it after further consultations.

For many young people, the episode feels like a bittersweet victory. The streets are quieter, the trains are running, and the internet hums again, but the deeper question of how India’s high‑stakes exams are conducted still hangs in the balance.

As Delhi settles back into its rhythm, activists and officials alike say the real work is just beginning – translating promises on paper into tangible changes for the next generation of students.