New Delhi: The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on Thursday called for nationwide peaceful protests on July 24 and urged people to hold demonstrations in every district after rejecting the Union government's offer for talks, insisting that any dialogue should be held only at a neutral venue.
The group also said Prime Minister Narendra Modi's announcement on action against paper leaks did not address the issue of accountability or its primary demand for Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation over the alleged NEET paper leak.
The government made another appeal for talks, with Union minister Jitendra Singh saying a meeting to resolve the issues could be held either at Union Health Minister J P Nadda's official residence or at his office.
Nadda also invited the CJP for talks, but its leaders declined the proposal, reiterating that they would only meet at a neutral venue.
Announcing Friday's protest, the CJP said demonstrations would be held across the country under the slogan "Every District. One Day. One Demand." Participants will read out the protesters' demands and express solidarity with students, parents and others allegedly injured during the police action in Delhi on July 20.
The nationwide call came as the protest at Jantar Mantar entered a new phase amid heightened security in the national capital, continued restrictions around the protest site and mounting political criticism over the July 20 police action.
The protest site remained under heavy security, with large parts of central Delhi witnessing traffic disruptions for the second consecutive day. Seventeen Delhi Metro stations remained closed on Thursday, affecting commuters and businesses, while mobile internet services remained suspended until midnight within a 1.5-km radius of Jantar Mantar.
Traffic restrictions and barricading led to congestion on several major roads around Connaught Place, ITO, Parliament Street and India Gate, with many commuters reporting long delays.
Despite the restrictions, crowds continued to gather at the protest site, raising slogans against the Union government, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The CJP also alleged attempts were being made to disrupt its agitation. Founder Abhijeet Dipke claimed that "outsiders" and "BJP goons" were being sent to the protest site to create disturbances and later blame the protesters. The BJP rejected the allegations.
CJP spokesperson Saurav Das shared a video on social media purportedly showing plain-clothed youths carrying batons and threatening protesters.
He alleged that one such person attacked the father of a minor protester inside Jantar Mantar and demanded that Delhi Police invoke stricter legal provisions, including the SC/ST Act where applicable, and take the accused into preventive custody.
Meanwhile, Delhi Police said it was investigating whether "outsiders" and habitual offenders had infiltrated the demonstrations and contributed to violence. Multiple teams have been formed to identify those involved in attacks on security personnel and damage to public property, a police source said.
Activist Sonam Wangchuk's wife, Gitanjali Angmo, said it was "deeply painful" to see students being portrayed negatively and questioned why it was "easier to question their intentions than to hear their concerns".
In a post on X, she appealed against linking the ongoing student protest at Jantar Mantar to incidents of violence elsewhere in Delhi without evidence, saying the movement had remained peaceful.
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the welfare of the country's youth remained the government's top priority and asserted that anyone trying to harm their future would not be spared.
He announced the establishment of fast-track courts to ensure swift and stringent punishment for those involved in paper leak cases.
Opposition leaders and CJP functionaries criticised the Prime Minister's remarks, saying they failed to address students' concerns over alleged examination irregularities and the police action on demonstrators. They said the focus should instead be on accountability and responding to the protesters' demands.
Delhi Police maintained that force was used only to enforce prohibitory orders and prevent protesters from marching towards Parliament, denying allegations of excessive force.
The force also denied reports of any planned crackdown on protesters at Jantar Mantar, rejecting claims made by former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal.
The New Delhi Traders Association (NDTA), citing the prevailing situation in and around Connaught Place, advised all offices, shops and restaurants in the area to close by 6:30 pm on Thursday.
Later in the evening, several Congress and INDIA bloc leaders paid tribute at Gandhi Smriti to students who allegedly died by suicide due to paper leaks. The leaders first assembled at Rahul Gandhi's residence before travelling together to Gandhi Smriti, where they reiterated their support for the protesters' demands.
Veteran BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi also expressed support for the students, saying on X that their "anxieties and concerns" regarding the examination system were "genuine".
Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti addressed the protesters at Jantar Mantar, praising them for enduring difficult conditions while demanding justice and transparency in the examination process.
