Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk has written to Union Ministers J.P. Nadda and Jitendra Singh, saying he is willing to end his indefinite hunger strike if the government gives an unequivocal assurance that no punitive or retaliatory legal action will be taken against the student protesters who participated in the movement.
In his letter dated July 22, Wangchuk thanked the two ministers for visiting him in hospital and said they had assured him that the government would consider adequate compensation for the families of students who died by suicide following examination paper leaks and hold a meaningful discussion in Parliament on accountability, including the resignation of the Union Education Minister.
Wangchuk described the July 20 ‘Chalo Sansad’ march as peaceful despite the alleged use of excessive police force and urged the government not to harass or initiate legal proceedings against protesters.
“I want to live. I want to return to my students, to education, and to the work that has defined my life. But I cannot do so at the cost of the very young people for whom this movement began,” he wrote.
He said he would end his fast if the government assured that no student protesters would face retaliatory action, adding that without such a guarantee, he would be compelled to continue his fast indefinitely. He also urged the government to refrain from using excessive police force against the movement.
Rahul Gandhi’s press meet
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday launched a sharp attack on the Centre over alleged examination paper leaks and police action against student protesters, demanding the removal of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and accusing the government of failing the country’s youth.
Addressing a press conference at the AICC headquarters, Gandhi questioned the police action against students, asking, “What wrong have our students done to have security forces aiming weapons at them, beating them up?” He asserted that students were only demanding “an education system that works and is fair.”
Claiming that India’s education system had deteriorated, Gandhi said, “Our education system, which was known as the best in the world, is today a rigged system.”
He demanded that Dharmendra Pradhan be removed from office, saying the Union minister was “incapable of holding the post.”
Backing the ongoing student protests, Gandhi said the demonstrations reflected the frustration of young people. “Students are protesting because India’s youth have no future. There must be consequences for what has been done over the past few days,” he said.
The Congress leader also called for accountability over the alleged use of force against protesters. “Everyone who assaulted the students must be held accountable. Prime Minister Narendra Modi should have the decency to apologise to the students for what has been done,” he said.
Targeting the government’s handling of examination irregularities, Gandhi claimed there had been 152 paper leaks in the past decade, affecting 7.5 crore students, while alleging that there had been “zero convictions” during the period.
“We support every single student and their demands,” he said.
Gandhi also alleged that higher education had become unaffordable, claiming that while the Centre allocated Rs 1.4 lakh crore to the education sector, students collectively spent Rs 1.32 lakh crore on a single NEET examination.
“Families spend on one exam what the Government of India spends on the entire education budget. This is an insult to every single student and family in this country,” he said.
Calling the protesters “the future of India,” Gandhi said they should not be treated like criminals.
“Protesting students are not terrorists; they are our future. Action should be taken against all those responsible,” he said.
Accusing the government of diverting attention from the issue, Gandhi said the focus should remain on students and their demands rather than political distractions.
“The government is trying to distract, but the focus should remain on students and their demands,” he said.
He added that the Congress stood firmly with the students, saying, “We feel that if India’s students are on the streets, the Opposition should also be on the streets.”
Parliament Monsoon Session LIVE: Lok Sabha to take up SC (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026
The Lok Sabha is set to take up the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026, for consideration and passage on Wednesday, with Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal scheduled to move the legislation in the ongoing Monsoon Session of Parliament. The Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha on July 20 amid continued Opposition sloganeering during the Monsoon Session of Parliament. As per the Lok Sabha List of Business for today, Meghwal will move that the Bill further to amend the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956, be taken into consideration and also move that the Bill be passed.
The legislative business will be taken up alongside a statutory resolution moved by MPs Sougata Ray, NK Premachandran and Dean Kuriakose, disapproving of the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Ordinance, 2026, promulgated by the President on May 16.The SC (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026, seeks to further amend the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956.Earlier in the day’s business, Kiren Rijiju and Gaurav Gogoi are scheduled to present the Seventeenth Report of the Business Advisory Committee.
Probe on after Aurangzeb poster displayed during CJP protest, says Maharashtra Minister
Maharashtra Minister Yogesh Kadam on an Aurangzeb poster being displayed during a protest in support of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) says, “I will not call them students. I don’t think any student would carry Aurangzeb’s poster while protesting, irrespective of their demands. We are inquiring into the matter, and whoever is responsible will be punished. I cannot say what the reason was, but I think some people in the opposition may be trying to politicise the movement. Opposition leaders are currently unable to attract the youth, so they may see this as a ready platform. A thorough investigation will definitely be conducted into the matter.”
Protests in New York and San Jose in support of activist Sonam Wangchuk
Activists from a US-based advocacy group held demonstrations in New York and San Jose to express solidarity with activist Sonam Wangchuk, who has been on an indefinite hunger strike in New Delhi over alleged irregularities in the conduct of the NEET exams.
Parliament Monsoon Session LIVE: AAP’s Sanjay Singh to flag NEET paper leak, public exam failures in Rajya Sabha notice today
AAP MP Sanjay Singh has given Suspension of Business Notice in Rajya Sabha with demand to discuss NEET-UG question paper leak, the failure of the public examination system, police action against protesters, and health of Sonam Wangchuk.
As per the Lok Sabha’s List of Business for July 22, Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal is to move that the Bill further to amend the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956, be taken into consideration.
Lok Sabha to take up bill seeking increase in Supreme Court judges
As per the Lok Sabha’s List of Business for July 22 (Wednesday), Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal is to move that the Bill further to amend the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956, be taken into consideration.
Parliament Monsoon Session LIVE: Congress MP Manish Tewari gives adjournment motion notice in LS
Congress MP Manish Tewari has given Adjournment Motion Notice in Lok Sabha to discuss the need for a New Anti-Defection Law.
PM Modi’s residence protest sparks political storm; Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka and Akhilesh Yadav detained
Opposition leaders, including Congress’s Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Samajwadi Party’s (SP) Akhilesh Yadav, were forcibly removed by police on Tuesday after they staged a dharna outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence here, demanding his resignation.
‘We protested to bring students issues to national attention’: Rahul Gandhi
Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday alleged that the government was “clearly” not interested in having a debate on the events of the July 20 Parliament march, which turned violent and therefore the opposition decided to protest outside the Prime Minister’s residence to put the spotlight on the issues of the students. .
‘Sorry to see current state of affairs’, says Spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravishankar
“The voices of India’s youth deserve to be heard with patience. A breakdown in communication serves no one and is deeply unfortunate. Very sorry to see the current state of affairs,” said Spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravishankar.
MoS Jitendra Singh, Health Minister Nadda visit Medanta Hospital to enquire about Sonam Wangchuk’s health: Sources
Minister of State for the Prime Minister’s Office, Jitendra Singh and Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda on Tuesday night visited the Medanta Hospital in Gurugram to enquire about the health of Activist Sonam Wangchuk, according to sources. Activist Sonam Wangchuk on Tuesday continued his indefinite hunger strike even after being shifted from Safdarjung Hospital to Gurugram’s Medanta Hospital following directions from the Delhi High Court, as thousands of students and supporters returned to Jantar Mantar to resume their agitation a day after violent clashes during a Parliament march.
Punjab Congress leaders hold protest outside Punjab Lok Bhavan
Punjab Congress held a protest outside the Lok Bhavan here against the police crackdown on youths in Delhi, and pressed for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged paper leaks. Senior Congress leaders including former Punjab Assembly Speaker Rana K P Singh, former health minister Balbir Singh Sidhu, accompanied by a significant strength of party workers, held a protest outside the official residence of the Punjab Governor and raised slogans against the BJP-led Centre, seeking withdrawal of cases registered against youths in Delhi.
Congress leader and former MLA Balbir Sidhu condemned the police action against youths, calling it shameful. Later, Chandigarh Police removed the Punjab Congress leaders from the protest site and detained them briefly.
Chandigarh Police also detained several Haryana Congress leaders when they tried to move towards Haryana Lok Bhavan from the party office here. They were released later in the evening.
Among those detained were Congress Haryana incharge Sanjay Dutt, state Congress chief Rao Narender Singh and several party MLAs including Aftab Ahmed, Ashok Arora, Geeta Bhukkal, Naresh Selwal, Maman Khan, Mandeep Chatha, Balram Dangi, Vikas Saharan, Induraj Narwal, Devender Hans and Jassi Petwar.
SP workers protest detention of Akhilesh Yadav, condemn police action on students
Samajwadi Party workers on Tuesday staged a protest against the Central government to condemn the alleged police lathi-charge on students in New Delhi and the subsequent detention of party chief Akhilesh Yadav. LoP in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly and Samajwadi Party MLA Mata Prasad Pandey alleged that the BJP government does not believe in democracy. “This is a democratic process, in which we have the right to sit on a dharna, to hold protests. There is no need for excessive interference by the government in this. We take to the streets to make our point… This is a part of the democratic process. Unfortunately, this government does not believe in democracy and wants to eliminate democratic processes…”, he told ANI.
In his first reaction since the police crackdown on protestors in Delhi, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Tuesday accused Rahul Gandhi and the Congress of using students as “political tools”, following the party’s dharna near Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence over the alleged police action against youth protesters.
The Congress demonstration followed clashes between police and protesters in Delhi during a march over the alleged NEET-UG 2026 paper leak. Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and several other Opposition leaders were briefly detained.
Pradhan said the government was ready for a comprehensive discussion in Parliament and remained committed to addressing students’ concerns. He alleged that the Congress had chosen “political spectacle over democratic debate”.
LoP Shri @RahulGandhi and @INCIndia continue to shamelessly exploit students as political tools to manufacture disruption during the Monsoon Session of Parliament.
— Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) July 21, 2026
Shri @RahulGandhi and @INCIndia chose to stage a dharna outside the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s residence , causing…
‘Monsoon Session would be a washout if…’: Congress warns government
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Tuesday warned that the ongoing Monsoon Session of Parliament would be a “washout” if the government continued to refuse a discussion on the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak and the police action against protesters, while demanding that Union Home Minister Amit Shah make a statement in Parliament on the issue.
Speaking to ANI after Opposition leaders joined protests in the national capital, Ramesh said the united stand taken by Opposition parties reflected growing concern over the handling of the examination controversy and the alleged police excesses against students.
“Opposition unity and solidarity were displayed in a very powerful and impactful manner. Our demand has been, and will continue to be, that the Home Minister makes a statement and that there is a detailed discussion regarding the education system, the examination system, and the atrocities committed against students by the Delhi Police yesterday. Furthermore, we demand the resignation of the Education Minister… However, I do not see that happening. If the government maintains this mindset, then the Parliament session will definitely be washed out,” Ramesh said.
– via ANI
Congress says Priyanka Gandhi ‘forcibly shoved’ into bus by male police officer
Senior Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra have been detained by Delhi Police amid protest near PM residence. The Congress has alleged that the woman MP was ‘forcibly shoved’ into bus by male police officer.
• क्या दिल्ली पुलिस के पास महिला पुलिसकर्मी नहीं हैं?
— Congress (@INCIndia) July 21, 2026
• क्या महिला सांसद को पुरुष पुलिसकर्मी द्वारा जबरन बस में ठूंसा जाना ठीक है?
अमित शाह की पुलिस ने आज न सिर्फ लोकतंत्र की धज्जियां उड़ाईं, बल्कि महिला सम्मान की सारी मर्यादाएं लांघ दीं।
देश की महिला सांसद के साथ ऐसा… pic.twitter.com/mkMi8AtcSh
Detained Congress leaders at Mandir Marg Police Station
A bus carrying Opposition leaders reaches Mandir Marg Police Station. The leader were detained by police while they were protesting at Lok Kalyan Marg.
Police detain Rahul Gandhi from protest site
Police moved in on Congress protest outside PM’s residence and forcibly removed Rahul Gandhi, Akhilesh Yadav, among other leaders from the site.
Police start detaining Congress leaders outside PM’s residence
— The Indian Express (@IndianExpress) July 21, 2026
Read: https://t.co/Qrj2Xn4NZ0 pic.twitter.com/o848ZS94dp
Supriya Sule joins Congress dharna outside Modi’s residence
NCP MP Supriya Sule has also reached outside PM Modi’s residence to join Congress leaders protesting the police crackdown on protesters on July 20. Earlier, MoS Jitendra Singh went to the site and urged Rahul Gandhi to end the sit-in as “spot is not meant for protest” and is “causing inconvenience to people”, he said.
Rahul Gandhi appeals people to join protest outside PM Modi’s residence
Rahul Gandhi appealed to people to join Congress’s protest outside PM Modi’s residence, accusing the Centre of failing to answer questions over the alleged crackdown on students. In a post on X, Gandhi said, “An attack on students is an attack on every Indian family,” and alleged that Prime Minister Modi believed he could “get away without answers, without consequences.” Urging “every patriotic Indian” who believes students deserve justice to participate in the dharna, Gandhi’s post read.
छात्रों पर हमला हर भारतीय परिवार पर हमला है।
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) July 21, 2026
प्रधानमंत्री मोदी को लगता है कि वो बिना जवाब दिए, बिना किसी नतीजे का सामना किए बच निकलेंगे – नहीं कर पाएंगे, इस बार तो बिल्कुल नहीं।
मैं हर उस देशभक्त भारतीय से अपील करता हूं जो मानता है कि हमारे छात्रों को न्याय मिलना चाहिए -…
‘Congress won’t leave until students get justice’
“We won’t move from here till the time students of india don’t get justice. Congress party will sit here on dharna day and night. Modi will have to come out. We want justice,” Congress Rajya Sabha MP Pawan Khera.
MoS Jitendra Singh meets Rahul Gandhi, urges him to end dharna outside PM’s residence
Senior Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, accompanied by party chief Mallikarjun Kharge and several top leaders, sat on a protest dharna outside the Prime Minister’s Lok Kalyan Marg residence on Tuesday and demanded the resignation of PM Narendra Modi over police action against students protesting on the NEET paper leak issue.
After nearly 20 minutes, Minister of State in Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) Jitendra Singh met Gandhi at the protest site and urged him to end his dharna. The unprecedented scenes unfolded soon after Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra met the injured students at a hospital.
Singh was accompanied by Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan at the protest site.
CJP removes spokesperson Vijeta Dahiya
The Cockroach Janta Party has removed its spokesperson, Vijeta Dahiya, from the post and stripped him of all official responsibilities after videos of him surfaced during a protest.
In a statement, the party said it “strongly condemns” Dahiya’s “deeply insensitive actions”, alleging that the videos emerged while peaceful protesters and party members were facing “brutal police violence”. Calling his conduct “unacceptable” and “wholly inconsistent” with the party’s values and principles, the party announced his immediate removal from the spokesperson’s role.
Cong leaders stage protest outside PM Modi’s residence
Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, among others have marched to PM Modi’s residence at 7 Lok Kalyan Marg against the crackdown on protesters at Jantar Mantar on July 20.
“We have marched to PM Modi’s house to demand answers from him for the brutalities against young students yesterday. The Government doesn’t want to take any accountability or does it want to have a debate on it in Parliament. PM and HM must resign for destroying the future of India’s youth,” Rahul posted on X.
‘Entire country watching you’, LS Chair to MPs before adjourning lower house
Before adjourning the Lok Sabha, Chairperson Dilip Saikia said, “The entire country is watching you. Bringing banners, posters, and black cloth is against the rules of Parliament.”
Amid disruptions in the house, Saikia adjourned the proceedings until 11 am tomorrow.
WATCH
#monsoonsession2026
"आप सभी अपने-अपने स्थान पर बैठिए। पूरा देश आपको देख रहा है। बैनर, पोस्टर और काला कपड़ा लेकर आना संसद के नियमों के खिलाफ है।"
विपक्ष के भारी शोर-शराबे के बीच लोकसभा की कार्यवाही कल सुबह 11 बजे तक के लिए स्थगित कर दी गई।#loksabha @LokSabhaSectt… pic.twitter.com/mKIHwySwgo
Angmo welcomes Delhi HC order, says ‘it was like a detention’
After Delhi HC’s latest order on shifting Sonam Wangchuk to private hospital, his wife Dr Gitanjali Angmo told the press, “I thank Delhi High Court for favourably disposing of this matter.” “In India, a democratic citizen has the right to choose his choice of doctor and hospital and treatment. Here, we had trust deficit because of the way he was brought here. His hospitalisation was not needed, as monitoring of his health could be done at Jantar Mantar. It was like a detention so that he cannot get in contact with people outside,” she further said.
WATCH
#watch | Activist Sonam Wangchuk’s wife, Dr Gitanjali Angmo, says, "I thank Delhi High Court for favourably disposing of this matter. In India, a democratic citizen has the right to choose his choice of doctor and hospital and treatment. Here, we had trust deficit because of the… pic.twitter.com/CfhhCkZJYM
— ANI (@ANI) July 21, 2026
Lok Sabha adjourned till Wednesday morning
Lok Sabha proceedings remained stalled for a second straight day — with the Chair adjourning the Lower House till 11:00 am on Wednesday. This came mere minutes after the Lok Sabha tried to resume operations at 2:00 pm.
Mumbai Police register cases against dozens over CJP protest
In a somewhat geographically adjacent update, the Mumbai Police have registered three separate cases against more than 50 protesters in connection with the CJP protest held at Chaityabhoomi in Dadar.
Police sources told ANI that legal action was initiated after the protesters allegedly participated in the demonstration without obtaining the required permission from the authorities. The cases have been registered against more than 50 protesters.
Lok Sabha resumes amid Opposition sloganeering
Lok Sabha proceedings have just resumed — even as Opposition sloganeering continued on Tuesday afternoon. Both Houses of Parliament have been adjourned repeatedly, with mere minutes of activity since the Monsoon Session began on Monday.
Union Minister JP Nadda and Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi are now meeting the protesters injured in the Delhi Police crackdown.
Earlier in the day, Nadda visited RML Hospital to review the condition of those admitted and held a meeting with doctors regarding their medical care before proceeding to Lady Hardinge Hospital.
During his visit, the Union Minister held a meeting with doctors to review the medical care being provided and the condition of the injured.
