Former BJP leader K. Annamalai has sharply criticized the Indian government for its handling of repeated exam paper leaks and the absence of accountability. Speaking on July 22, 2026, he questioned why the government failed to take responsibility despite multiple major leaks and why meaningful dialogue with students began only after protests escalated nationwide.

Annamalai, now leading the 'We the Leaders' movement, said he had long supported the NEET exam for promoting equal opportunity but argued that three leaks in five years exposed deep flaws in the system. He accused the BJP-led central government of remaining silent and slow to act while students grew increasingly frustrated and took to the streets.

He urged the government to engage transparently with students to restore trust in educational institutions and warned student leaders to stay vigilant against groups seeking to exploit the movement for political gain.

Indian opposition leader Rahul Gandhi has strongly condemned police action against students protesting question paper leaks across the country. Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, he said the agitating students have made three key demands: the immediate resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, strict punishment for those who ordered and carried out attacks on protesters, and an apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the students.

Gandhi was detained by police on Tuesday while marching toward Modi’s residence during the protest. He later recounted that a police officer privately expressed frustration with the government. Highlighting what he called a collapse of the education system, Gandhi alleged that at least 152 incidents of question paper leaks have occurred over the past decade without a single perpetrator being brought to justice.

The ongoing protests reflect growing anger among students and opposition groups over repeated exam irregularities and the government’s handling of accountability in the education sector.

Indian opposition leader Rahul Gandhi sharply criticized the country’s education system, calling it completely corrupt and collapsed. Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday while wearing a black badge, he claimed that 152 government and competitive exam papers had been leaked over the past ten years, yet not a single offender had been punished. Gandhi wore a black cloth on his arm in protest against police action on Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) demonstrators and demanded the immediate resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan for failing to prevent repeated leaks.

He alleged that millions of students and their families were paying the price for a broken system, with some students driven to suicide due to repeated leaks and immense pressure. Gandhi said around 75 million students and their families had been affected, as families’ hard-earned money was wasted on education undermined by corruption. He urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to apologize to students and emphasized that their demands for a fair education system should remain the focus.

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party dismissed Gandhi’s protest as childish and accused him of trying to create chaos during the parliamentary session, organizing counter-protests in response.

Authorities in New Delhi have temporarily closed 16 major metro stations due to security risks arising from ongoing demonstrations by the 'Cockroach Janata Party' (CJP). The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) announced the closures around 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, affecting key routes on the Blue, Yellow, and Violet lines. The sudden move caused confusion among commuters as train routes were altered and access to several stations was restricted.

The affected stations include Lok Kalyan Marg, Rajiv Chowk, Patel Chowk, Ramakrishna Ashram Marg, Barakhamba Road, Supreme Court, Seva Tirth, Janpath, Mandi House, Central Secretariat, ITO, Delhi Gate, Indraprastha, Khan Market, Jor Bagh, and Shivaji Stadium. Interchange facilities remain operational at Rajiv Chowk, Mandi House, and Central Secretariat. However, DMRC has not specified when the stations will reopen.

The closures led to disorder at several stations, with passengers unable to exit due to police barricades. Long queues and arguments with police were reported at Mandi House, and additional police forces were deployed to maintain control.

An opinion essay by Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb, published on July 22, 2026, explores why India experiences frequent protests but not mass uprisings. The author argues that India’s functioning electoral system, institutional balance, and decentralized power structure allow public anger to be released through elections rather than revolutions. He contrasts this with Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, where blocked political channels and institutional collapse led to uprisings.

The essay identifies several factors behind India’s stability: co-optation of protest movements by the state, vast social and linguistic diversity preventing unified national movements, and the dominance of identity politics over class-based solidarity. It also discusses the rise of the BJP and RSS, the marginalization of Muslims and Dalits, and the cultural influence of Bollywood in maintaining state legitimacy. The author references political theorists such as Huntington and North to explain India’s “limited access order.”

The piece concludes that India’s youth remain aware and critical despite propaganda, and that a genuine uprising could occur only if electoral legitimacy collapses and co-optation loses credibility.

India’s Supreme Court has rejected a plea for an urgent hearing in a case concerning police baton charges on participants of the Cockroach Janata Party’s protest. The request was made on Wednesday before a bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant, who declined to take up the matter. When the lawyer attempted to justify the protest as being in the public interest and related to alleged exam paper leaks, the Chief Justice interrupted, saying, “Thank you very much,” and refused to watch videos presented as evidence of police brutality.

The Delhi High Court had also refused to conduct an emergency hearing on Tuesday, stating that the judiciary should not be drawn into such matters. The protests, held at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, are being led by the Cockroach Janata Party and its supporters, demanding education reforms and the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

The Cockroach Janata Party was formed after Chief Justice Surya Kant once referred to unemployed youth as “cockroaches,” a remark that sparked widespread criticism and inspired the group’s name.

Members of India’s opposition alliance staged a protest in black attire at the Parliament complex, condemning the government’s alleged repression of demonstrators. The protest followed an earlier demonstration outside the Prime Minister’s residence, led by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, in solidarity with student protesters. On Wednesday, Congress lawmakers appeared in black clothing and demonstrated outside the Parliament gates.

Lawmakers from several other opposition parties joined the protest, demanding the resignations of Home Minister Amit Shah and Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Members of the Samajwadi Party wore black scarves to show support, while party chief Akhilesh Yadav had earlier joined the Congress-led protest outside the Prime Minister’s residence, where he and several Congress leaders were detained. The opposition demanded a parliamentary discussion on the alleged leak of the NEET exam paper and the police use of force against protesters in the capital.

Congress MP Pawan Khera told NDTV that the education minister should resign before any discussion takes place, citing the police action against students as unacceptable.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken publicly for the first time about the NEET (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test) question paper leak, calling it a grave wrongdoing and pledging the harshest punishment for those involved. Speaking at the NDA parliamentary meeting in Delhi’s Parliament Library building, Modi urged lawmakers to guide the youth responsibly and avoid incitement. Union Minister Kiren Rijiju said the Prime Minister called for a flawless and transparent examination system through collective effort.

The remarks came a day after the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) led a massive “Parliament March” in Delhi demanding the cancellation of the NEET-UG exam and the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Around 20,000 protesters, mostly students and youth, clashed with police near Parliament, prompting tear gas and baton charges. Activist Sonam Wangchuk continued his hunger strike from hospital, condemning police action and demanding dialogue with lawmakers.

In response, the government held talks with CJP leaders, with Health Minister J.P. Nadda receiving written demands. However, both the CJP and Wangchuk remain firm on their call for ministerial accountability.

Crowds continued to swell at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar on Wednesday morning as members of the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) declared they would not leave the protest site. The demonstrators are demanding the resignation of India’s Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The movement, which began after the leak of the NEET examination paper, has now expanded beyond India, with solidarity protests reported in New York, San Jose, London, and Dublin.

According to reports, members of an advocacy group in the United States organized demonstrations in support of fasting activist Wangchuk. Meanwhile, opposition alliances in India have also joined the streets. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi protested outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence on Tuesday, condemning police action against students in Delhi and presenting a five-point demand while in detention.

Both the CJP and opposition leaders have accused the police of using repressive measures against peaceful protesters. The ongoing unrest poses a growing challenge to the government as the movement gains international visibility.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday presented a five-point demand to India’s central government, calling for the resignations of Home Minister Amit Shah and Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The move followed widespread student protests over alleged government repression and police action during demonstrations against the NEET exam paper leak. The opposition intensified its agitation in the capital, where several Congress leaders, including Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, were detained by Delhi Police near the Prime Minister’s residence and later released.

In a video message recorded before his release, Rahul Gandhi accused the government of mistreating students and outlined his demands. These included the resignation of the two ministers, action against police involved in attacks on students, withdrawal of cases filed against protesters, a public apology from the Prime Minister for police operations, a full parliamentary debate on the issue, and urgent reforms in the education and competitive examination systems.

According to Rahul Gandhi, the opposition alliance plans to press for detailed discussions on the matter in both houses of Parliament on Wednesday.

Flood conditions in India’s Assam state have deteriorated further, with 21 more people dying in flood-related incidents over the past 24 hours. This brings the total death toll from this year’s floods to 31, according to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA). The agency reported that around 564,600 people across 16 districts have been affected by the rising waters.

ASDMA’s late-night bulletin stated that the highest number of deaths occurred in Sivasagar district, where 13 people died, followed by five in Charaideo, two in Golaghat, and one in Jorhat. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced plans to visit the affected districts from Wednesday to review relief and rescue operations. He said the floods, triggered by heavy upstream rainfall, have caused severe hardship for residents.

The ASDMA added that 872 villages under 44 revenue circles remain submerged, with Sivasagar, Jorhat, and Charaideo among the worst-hit areas. Currently, 12,284 people are taking shelter in 71 relief camps, while 202 distribution centers are operating across the state.

The Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) has announced plans to intensify its protest in Delhi demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, compensation for families of deceased examinees, and the release of activist Sonam Wangchuk. CJP leader Abhijit Dipak said the movement would continue at Jantar Mantar despite police restrictions. The protests follow violent clashes on Monday when police dismantled the protest stage and used tear gas to disperse demonstrators, leaving over 100 injured, including a critically hurt young woman.

The Indian National Congress expressed solidarity by staging a sit-in outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence, where several senior leaders, including Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi, were detained. Rahul Gandhi accused the government of suppressing students’ voices and demanded the resignation of Modi and the Home Minister. Meanwhile, Modi ordered strict action against those involved in the exam leak, and officials said dialogue with protesters remains open though no schedule is set.

Analysts noted that widespread student support and opposition involvement have intensified pressure on Modi’s government, signaling a potential escalation of the crisis.

Indian opposition leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi were released by police hours after being detained for participating in a protest near Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s official residence. The detention occurred on Tuesday morning when Rahul Gandhi joined a sit-in demonstration and announced plans to continue the protest overnight. Delhi Police detained him shortly afterward.

Following his detention, Congress leader Sonia Gandhi visited the Mandir Marg police station. Rahul Gandhi was later released from Chhatrasal Stadium, after which Sonia Gandhi left the station. Priyanka Gandhi, Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav, and other opposition figures detained during the protest were also freed the same night.

The Congress party organized the protest demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Modi and Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over issues including the alleged leak of NEET exam questions and police action against student demonstrators in Delhi.

India’s satirical political group, the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), has dismissed its spokesperson, Bijeta Dahiya, after a video showing her eating a burger during a protest march toward Parliament went viral on social media. The decision was announced on Tuesday following the incident that occurred during Monday’s demonstration in Delhi. The party stated that Dahiya’s actions were “deeply insensitive” and inconsistent with its principles, removing her from all official duties.

The protest, largely attended by young students, was organized to demand the resignation of India’s Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged irregularities and question paper leaks in national examinations. Police used tear gas and batons to disperse the crowd, reporting that 178 people were injured, including 118 police personnel and around 60 protesters.

In response to criticism, Dahiya released a video defending her actions, saying she ate the burger out of hunger or desire and questioned why she was being held accountable. She asserted that her political involvement was voluntary and that she was not answerable to anyone.

A 20-year-old woman was admitted to the intensive care unit of Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in Delhi after being injured during a police operation at a protest organized by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP). Hospital sources said she is on ventilator support. The protest, held on Monday near Jantar Mantar, left 90 students injured, with 79 discharged by Tuesday morning. Police reported that over 118 officers and about 60 protesters were hurt, and more than 20 police vehicles were damaged.

India’s Health Minister J.P. Nadda visited Ram Manohar Lohia and Lady Hardinge hospitals to check on the injured and discuss their treatment with doctors. The protest began as a march toward Parliament demanding accountability over recent exam paper leaks. Despite Monday’s clashes, demonstrators regrouped at Jantar Mantar on Tuesday, prompting police to deploy additional forces and remove protest tents.

Political involvement has intensified, with Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, and Priyanka Gandhi leading a march toward Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence. Delhi Police have filed four FIRs related to the violence and plan to register two more cases under multiple laws.