Student Protesters Tear‑Gassed as Government Engages CJP Leaders, Calls for End to Agitation

New Delhi, July 20 – What began as a disciplined march toward the Parliament House quickly devolved into a chaotic scene on the streets of central Delhi. Hundreds of student activists, many brandishing placards demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, tried to breach police barricades and were met with a volley of teargas shells, sticks and baton charges.

In the heat of the moment, both protesters and officers suffered minor injuries – officials estimate the number of wounded on each side to be around fifty. Mobile internet services were switched off in parts of the capital, adding to the confusion. The police, citing public safety, justified the forceful dispersal, while the students insisted they were merely exercising their constitutional right to protest.

The agitation is part of a month‑long hunger strike at Jantar Mantar, sparked by allegations that exam papers for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) were leaked. The CJP (Cockroach Janta Party), which has rallied the students under the banner “Chalo Sansad,” urged its supporters to “remain calm” even as the situation grew tense.

Amid the turmoil, Union Health Minister JP Nadda invited two CJP spokespersons to his residence for a private discussion. The delegation handed over a written memorandum demanding, among other things, the immediate resignation of Mr Pradhan. In his remarks, Nadda reportedly asked the leaders to call off the agitation, emphasizing the need for dialogue over disruption.

Opposition figures echoed the students’ grievances. Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra condemned the use of force, saying, “These are our children; they deserve a discussion, not tear‑gas.” Samajwadi Party MP Dimple Yadav claimed she herself had been detained. Even fasting activist Sonam Wangchuk, currently hospitalised, petitioned to join the march, but his request was denied.

While Union Home Minister Amit Shah was seen meeting Mr Pradhan inside the Parliament complex, the details of their conversation remain unclear. The government, meanwhile, faces pressure to address the education sector’s mounting woes without further inflaming public sentiment.

As the dust settles, the protestors remain steadfast, vowing to continue until their demands are met. Whether dialogue will replace dissent remains the pivotal question in the days ahead.