India’s central government has indicated openness to dialogue with protesting students amid ongoing demonstrations over the medical entrance exam paper leak. According to NDTV, officials said discussions with the protesters would be considered later depending on the situation, though no timeline has been set. On Monday, Health Minister J.P. Nadda visited injured students at Lady Hardinge Hospital and met representatives of the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), urging them to withdraw their protest.

CJP spokesperson Saurav Das said the group presented three main demands: the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, compensation of one crore rupees for families of deceased examinees, and the immediate release of activist Sonam Wangchuk, who was hospitalized after a 21-day hunger strike. Protests intensified after Wangchuk was forcibly taken to hospital, with thousands gathering at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. Police used tear gas to disperse crowds attempting to march toward Parliament, leaving several injured.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called for the harshest punishment for those involved in the leak, while opposition leader Rahul Gandhi accused the government of suppressing students instead of addressing their concerns.

In New Delhi, India’s main opposition party Congress held a protest march toward Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s official residence on Tuesday, denouncing a recent exam paper leak. The demonstration was led by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge along with senior leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi. Party members first gathered at Kharge’s official residence on Rajaji Marg before marching to Modi’s residence on Lok Kalyan Marg, a distance of just over one kilometer.

Congress leaders said the protest aimed to increase pressure on the central government following the leak. The event came a day after the Cockroach Janata Party organized a separate march toward Parliament that turned violent. Police used batons and tear gas during that protest, which left 178 people injured and 70 detained.

The joint action by Congress and the Cockroach Party signals growing opposition pressure on the government amid public anger over the paper leak incident.

Delhi Police detained Lok Sabha opposition leader Rahul Gandhi, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi, and several other senior party figures during a sit-in protest outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s official residence on Tuesday. The demonstration took place at Lok Kalyan Marg in New Delhi, where Congress leaders gathered to demand the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

According to the report, police arrived at the protest site and detained the Congress leaders, later removing them from the area. The protest was part of the party’s ongoing campaign against the central government’s handling of issues related to the education ministry.

The detentions mark another confrontation between the Congress leadership and the Modi administration, highlighting continued political tensions in the national capital.

Congress has intensified its protest against the central government over allegations of question paper leaks in various Indian examinations. Party leader and Lok Sabha opposition leader Rahul Gandhi announced he would hold an overnight sit-in outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s official residence, urging citizens to join in support of students’ demand for justice.

On Tuesday, Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, and Priyanka Gandhi led a march from Kharge’s residence in New Delhi toward the Prime Minister’s residence to protest the government’s handling of the issue. Rahul Gandhi said on social media that attacks on students are attacks on every Indian family and called on patriotic citizens to join the protest. Congress sources confirmed that Gandhi would continue the overnight demonstration.

During the protest, Union Minister Jitendra Singh spoke with Rahul Gandhi, but Congress leaders said the discussion yielded no resolution. Congress MP Syed Nasir Hussain stated that the government requested withdrawal of the protest, which the party refused without meeting their demands, including the resignation of the education minister and a parliamentary debate on the leaks.

At least nine workers were killed and fifteen others remained trapped after a tunnel under construction for a hydropower project collapsed in Sikkim, northeastern India. The incident occurred on Monday near the Teesta River, according to officials who briefed reporters on Tuesday. Rajib Roka, director of the Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority, said that between 25 and 27 people were initially trapped, and nine bodies have been recovered so far.

Preliminary reports suggest that an explosion deep inside the tunnel may have triggered the collapse, though the exact cause remains uncertain. The region has experienced continuous heavy monsoon rains in recent days, which may have contributed to the disaster. Toxic methane gas released from underground rock layers has complicated rescue efforts, allowing only teams equipped with oxygen gear to enter the tunnel.

Authorities have flown in a specialized rescue team trained for mining accidents to assist in the operation. Environmental experts have warned that rapid infrastructure development in the fragile Himalayan region increases the risk of such disasters.

Thousands of protesters gathered unexpectedly at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar on Monday, overwhelming police and security forces despite strict measures and an internet shutdown. The demonstrators, mostly students and young people, broke through multiple barricades and advanced toward India’s Parliament, prompting police to fire tear gas and use batons to disperse the crowd. The situation unfolded just as the Indian Parliament’s monsoon session began.

According to a senior government official cited in The Hindu, around 3,000 security personnel had been deployed, but they failed to contain the massive, leaderless crowd. Protesters filled all roads leading to Parliament, moving along Raisina Marg with little initial resistance from police. Authorities eventually blocked the route with buses about 100 meters from the Parliament complex.

The unprecedented breach near Parliament highlighted the scale and intensity of the unrest in the capital, raising questions about the effectiveness of existing security arrangements during major political sessions.

A large-scale clash erupted in New Delhi on Monday during the ‘Parliament Chalo’ march organized by the Cockroach Janata Party (CGP). According to reports, at least 118 police personnel, including senior officers, were injured, while around 70 protesters were detained for creating disorder and violence. The Delhi Police stated that demonstrators ignored restrictions, attacked law enforcement with stones and objects, and broke multiple barricades.

Authorities confirmed that among the injured were senior police officials such as special, joint, additional, and deputy commissioners, along with several female officers. Around 60 protesters were also reported injured. The violent crowd vandalized 15 to 20 government vehicles and caused extensive damage to public and private property. Delhi Police condemned the violence and announced strict legal action against those involved.

Police said cases are being filed under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and other relevant laws for rioting, obstructing official duties, attacking police, and damaging government property. Officials warned that no one involved in the unrest will be spared.

Farmers from Punjab have announced a new protest march to Delhi under the banner of the 'Desh Bachao Morcha' program. The march, set to begin on Tuesday, comes amid ongoing demonstrations by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) over alleged irregularities and question paper leaks in the NEET medical entrance exam. Farmers have begun preparations, decorating tractors with national flags and banners outlining their demands, and have vowed not to return home until their concerns are addressed.

The farmers allege that a 'secret' trade deal between the Modi government and the United States could severely harm Indian farmers by allowing cheap American agricultural products to flood the domestic market. Thousands of farmers from various districts of Punjab are expected to join the march toward Delhi.

Political observers believe that the farmers’ new protest, coinciding with the violent CJP demonstrations in Delhi, could further intensify pressure on the Modi government.

Bangladesh’s youth organization National Youth Power (NCP) has expressed deep concern and condemnation over the police crackdown, baton charge, and arrests during a peaceful demonstration by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) in New Delhi. The group’s founder, Abhijit Deepak, was among those detained. In a statement issued on July 20, the NCP voiced solidarity with the protesting youths and emphasized their right to peaceful democratic expression.

According to the NCP statement, the protesters had gathered to demand the resignation of India’s Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged irregularities in the education system and repeated exam paper leaks. The organization said that the use of force and suppression of dissent raise serious concerns about civil liberties and democratic practices. It urged Indian authorities to ensure an impartial and transparent investigation into the incident and to maintain a constitutional environment for peaceful political activities.

The NCP added that movements for justice, accountability, and human dignity transcend borders and contribute to the global democratic spirit.

Massive unrest broke out in New Delhi on Monday during the Cockroach Janata Party’s (CJP) ‘Chalo Sansad’ march. Police and Rapid Action Force units used tear gas and batons to stop protesters advancing toward Parliament. The most intense clashes occurred near Parliament Street, Connaught Place, and Patel Chowk Metro Station, where demonstrators tried to break barricades. Witnesses said some protesters threw bottles, while police blocked all exits, leaving many trapped amid tear gas.

The marchers, mostly students and supporters, demanded Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation and reforms following the NEET-UG question paper leak. The All India Students’ Association reported serious injuries, including a broken arm and multiple cases of police assault on both male and female protesters. CJP condemned the crackdown on social media, questioning the government’s commitment to democracy.

Opposition leaders, including Shiv Sena’s Aaditya Thackeray, criticized the government’s handling of the protest, warning that such police action against peaceful demonstrators would damage India’s democratic image. Delhi Police urged calm, calling on all sides to maintain law and order and avoid violence.

The Indian government has advised its citizens to postpone travel to Iran due to the deteriorating security situation in the Middle East. In a statement issued by the Indian Embassy in Tehran, citizens currently in Iran were urged to consider temporarily leaving the country using available commercial flights until the situation improves.

The advisory follows a surge in regional tensions marked by continued U.S. airstrikes in Iran for the ninth consecutive day. Iran has reported that two oil tankers were disabled following explosions near the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s key energy transport routes. The incident has heightened global concerns over the security of this strategic waterway.

The renewed conflict between the United States and Iran intensified after the collapse of a month-old interim ceasefire agreement. The ongoing confrontation over control of the Strait of Hormuz has disrupted global energy supplies and raised fears of further increases in fuel prices and inflation worldwide.

Indian opposition leader Rahul Gandhi has strongly condemned the use of tear gas and baton charges by Delhi Police against students protesting in New Delhi. The students were marching toward Parliament on July 20, 2026, demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over allegations of question paper leaks and irregularities in various examinations. Gandhi said the students were only demanding their legitimate rights and that the police action was undemocratic.

In a video message released after the incident, Gandhi stated that the protesting youth were not criminals and described the government and police behavior as disgraceful. He emphasized that such actions could not be considered part of Indian democratic traditions. Gandhi also said the country’s youth were angry about the current education system and urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take the students’ demands seriously.

The incident has added to the political tension in Delhi, where protests over education-related issues have been intensifying.

More than 50 security personnel were injured and over 70 protesters detained during demonstrations organized by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) in India. The clashes occurred across multiple locations as security forces confronted protesters, according to a report by India Today citing internal sources on Monday.

Police sources said that the injured included members of the Delhi Police and paramilitary forces deployed for security duties. Authorities have begun filing separate First Information Reports (FIRs) based on complaints received from various sites of the protests. Investigators are reviewing CCTV footage and mobile phone videos to identify those involved and to reconstruct the sequence of events.

The incidents mark a significant escalation of political unrest in Delhi, with law enforcement focusing on tracing participants and determining responsibility for the violence.

Maulana Arshad Madani, president of Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind, said that communal politics in India has now turned its hostility not only toward Muslims but also toward Islam itself. Speaking as the chief guest at a Hindu-Muslim Unity Conference organized by Uttar Pradesh Jamiat Ulema, he warned that the politics of hatred has plunged the country into a deep crisis with no clear path forward.

Madani urged people of all faiths who believe in human values to unite against communalism and hatred. He emphasized that real initiatives are needed at every level to build a collective voice against intolerance. Citing history, he recalled that the first call for protest against British rule came from Delhi scholar Abdul Aziz Muhaddis Dehlvi, inspiring the uprisings of 1832 and 1857. Madani reaffirmed that Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind is a religious organization with no political ties and has long worked to strengthen Hindu-Muslim harmony.

He also expressed concern over recent exam paper leaks affecting students and warned that demolishing Rampur’s Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar University infrastructure could jeopardize thousands of students’ futures.

A delegation from the Karoch Janata Party (CJP) met Indian Health Minister and former BJP president Jagat Prakash Nadda on Monday to present three key demands. The meeting coincided with protests in New Delhi, where demonstrators marched toward Parliament demanding government accountability over the NEET-UG medical entrance exam paper leak. CJP spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka said Nadda requested time to discuss the demands with senior government leaders.

The CJP’s demands include the unconditional release of social activist Sonam Wangchuk, the resignation or removal of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, and compensation of 10 million rupees for families of students who died by suicide following the exam leak. Another spokesperson, Saurabh Das, stated that Nadda assured them the issues would be raised at the appropriate level but gave no firm commitments. He also said the peaceful movement would continue until the demands are met.

Nadda described the meeting as cordial and urged protesters to withdraw their sit-in and restore normalcy. Meanwhile, Education Minister Pradhan held a separate three-and-a-half-hour meeting with Home Minister Amit Shah, though its contents were not disclosed.