NDMC Scrubs Jantar Mantar Overnight After CJP’s Month‑Long Protest Comes to an End

The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) rolled up its sleeves and spent the entire night cleaning Jantar Mantar, the iconic public space that had been a battleground for the Cockroach Janata Party’s (CJP) protest against the NEET‑UG 2026 paper leak. Workers swept up piles of garbage, hosed down the flag‑strewn pathways, and even gave the walls a fresh coat of paint before dawn.

Speaking to reporters on the spot, NDMC Vice‑Chairman Kuljeet Singh Chahal said the council had mobilised every available crew and piece of equipment. “When the protest finally dispersed yesterday, our team didn’t waste a minute. We cleaned, we washed, we repaired – everything we could to bring Jantar Mantar back to normal,” he explained, his tone a mix of relief and quiet pride.

The agitation, which stretched over a month, finally fizzled out on Saturday after Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan tendered his resignation. The protest had originally ignited over alleged leaks of the NEET‑UG 2026 question paper and broader claims of examination irregularities.

One of the most talked‑about moments of the movement was a 26‑day hunger strike by activist Sonam Wangchuk. His fast became a rallying point, especially after the Delhi Police moved him from the protest grounds to Safdarjung Hospital, and later to a private facility in Gurugram on a court order.

Opposition leaders had also flocked to Jantar Mantar, joining the crowd on July 20 for the “Chalo Sansad” march. Police said the demonstration turned violent, a claim that sparked heated debate across party lines. Figures like Samajwadi Party MP Dimple Yadav, CPI(M) stalwart Brinda Karat, former Delhi education minister Manish Sisodia and Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad were among those who voiced support.

In his resignation letter, Pradhan said he stepped down “in the larger interest of students” to prevent the nation’s youth from being caught in a “web of confusion”. He reflected on four decades of work in education, urging a more inclusive and forward‑looking system.

With the protest now over, the CJP announced that the government had agreed to compensate families of NEET aspirants who had tragically taken their own lives, and promised to withdraw FIRs lodged against demonstrators across the country. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation also reopened all entry and exit gates, signaling a return to everyday normalcy.

While the site is now spick and span, the episode leaves a lingering reminder of how quickly public sentiment can turn a historic landmark into a flashpoint for change.