CJP Protest Highlights: ‘High-powered attempt to fix PM’s compromised image,' says Congress on exam reform task force

The Supreme Court is slated to hear on Monday two separate pleas alleging police excesses against students protesting over NEET paper leak and other exam irregularities.

According to the apex court's cause list of July 27, the pleas would come up for hearing before a bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana.

A bench headed by the CJI had on July 24 agreed to hear these petitions after the matter was mentioned before it.

"Police is using excessive force against the students," senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan had told the bench while mentioning the pleas for urgent listing.

Sankaranarayanan had told the bench that two separate petitions were filed regarding the violence that took place during students' protests across the country.

The CJI had said that the pleas would be listed for hearing on July 27.

— PTI

Congress leaders on Sunday intensified their attack on the Centre over alleged police action against student protesters, demanding answers from Home Minister Amit Shah and accountability following Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation.

Congress MP Jebi Mather said the party would continue to seek answers from the Home Minister and that the INDIA bloc would meet to decide its next course of action.

Speaking to reporters, Mather said, "Before this matter went to the task force, what happened to the students? How did it happen?... Rahul Gandhi has asked many questions whose answers the Home Minister has to provide. We will continue to demand that answers to such questions be given... We will hold a meeting of the INDIA alliance and then decide on the course of action..."

Congress MP Renuka Chowdhury backed Rahul Gandhi's stand and questioned the alleged use of force against student demonstrators, calling on the Home Minister to apologise.

"This is right. We must raise this issue, and Rahul Gandhi has taken a timely view of it... What did you signal to the police, that they could use cannons against fellow citizens and fire rubber pellets?... Ordinary citizens will no longer be able to trust anyone in uniform. We don't even know if they were real police or fake police officers in uniform... The Home Minister should also apologise to the students," Chowdhury told reporters.

Congress MP Sukhdeo Bhagat described Pradhan's resignation as a "major setback" for the government but said the issue extended beyond the resignation of a single minister.

"I believe this victory belongs to Rahul Gandhi and all the youths who contributed, directly or indirectly, to this struggle... Regarding the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan, I would say this is a major setback for this arrogant government. Rahul Gandhi has also written to Amit Shah; this is merely the first milestone... He resigned only due to immense pressure from the public, but there is still no genuine honesty of intent. Secondly, Rahul Gandhi has consistently emphasised the need to fix accountability and prevent any recurrence of such incidents. Thirdly, the Cabinet operates on the principle of collective responsibility; therefore, simply changing an individual is not enough; the system itself must change. We believe this issue goes beyond the resignation of a single person; we want to safeguard the future of our youth and ensure that such incidents do not happen again," Bhagat told ANI.

Congress MP Manoj Kumar also demanded accountability from both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah over the alleged police action.

"The Prime Minister needs to accept responsibility...a wrong has been committed against the nation, and he ought to come forward and apologise...these children were voicing their views in a non-violent and peaceful manner, yet they were beaten...even now, many children are suffering from broken legs and fractured arms, while hundreds are in hospitals battling for their lives. Who is responsible for the use of pellet guns? Who is responsible for the lathi-charge on the children? Who issued such orders to the police? After all, the police act on orders; if they are ordered to use batons, they will do so...they were our children, our future...Home Minister Amit Shah must accept responsibility for this; he cannot evade accountability. These people must respond to the letter written by Rahul Gandhi," he told ANI.

The Congress derided the Modi government's committee on exam reforms as a "high-powered attempt to fix the Pradhan Mantri's irretrievably compromised image."

Ramesh said, "Friends, in June 2024, after it bungled multiple examinations including NEET-UG, the Modi Government constituted a High-Level Committee of Experts headed by Dr. K Radhakrishnan to 'ensure transparent, smooth and fair conduct of examinations.'"

ABVP said that objectionable remarks were made against the Indian Army during the CJP protest at Jantar Mantar, and alleged that the students' stir was exploited for a political, "anti-national" agenda.

Following the Centre's assurance that cases against the NEET paper leak protesters would be withdrawn, PTI citing Delhi Police sources on Sunday said it would take further action only after receiving official communication and guidelines from the competent authority.

Its source said 15 FIRs have been registered so far at different police stations in the New Delhi district in connection with the July 20 violence and other incidents linked to the ongoing protests.

On Saturday, at a joint press conference with Cockroach Janata Party spokespersons Saurav Das and Abhiseh Ranka, Union minister JP Nadda had said that the government agreed to withdraw FIRs registered against protesters and would provide a written assurance on the agreed demands by Tuesday.

Dipke also said the CJP would take up the alleged examination paper leak in Punjab, adding that the organisation was working on its response. "We will address that too. We are currently planning for it," he said.

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A day after former Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan tendered his resignation following massive protests over education reforms, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday announced the formation of a “high-powered task force” led by Infosys co-founder and Aadhaar architect Nandan Nilekani to recommend comprehensive reforms to the examination system. The panel will focus on making competitive examinations more transparent, technology-enabled and reliable.

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Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke said, "We will announce the future strategy soon. It only just ended yesterday; please give us a little time..."

On the alleged paper leak in Punjab, he says, "We will address that too; we are currently planning for it..."

On talks with the govt, he says, "Talks are underway concerning the cases that have been filed. No cases should be registered against any student."

The task force comprises technology expert Nandan Nilekani, former ISRO chairman S Somnath, former Intelligence Bureau director Tapan Deka, IIT Madras Director V Kamakoti, former Education Secretary Anita Karwal, and logistics expert Amrit Lal Meena.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday announced the formation of a high-powered task force on examination reforms under the leadership of Nandan Nilekani.

INDIA bloc parties are set to press for an urgent discussion in Parliament on the alleged use of excessive force against students protesting over the NEET paper leak, with Rahul Gandhi writing to Home Minister Amit Shah seeking accountability and TMC's Sagarika Ghose moving a notice for the suspension of the day's business to take up the issue of "grave national importance" on Monday.

While the Centre is scheduled to introduce a bill in the Lok Sabha on Monday to strengthen the anti-paper leak law and the Cockroach Janta Party(CJP) has called off its agitation following the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan as education minister and the acceptance of other demands by the government, Congress and other opposition parties are in no mood to relent.

They are expected to demand answers from the government in both Houses over allegations of pellet gun use, the deployment of men in plain clothes during the July 20 protest and the injuries suffered by several students.

In a letter to Shah, Gandhi, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, demanded accountability for what he termed the "barbaric assault" on peacefully protesting students and questioned whether the home minister had approved the use of "lethal force", including pellet guns, against the youth.

The Congress leader alleged that hundreds of students had suffered injuries during the police action and claimed women protesters were assaulted by police personnel.

Referring to 19-year-old student Sahil Lochab, whom he met on Friday, Gandhi said the student was likely to lose vision in one eye after allegedly being hit by pellets during the July 20 protest.

Gandhi also sought to know whether men in plainclothes seen beating students with lathis were police personnel or volunteers and who had authorised their deployment, saying "the country is demanding answers".

He asserted that peaceful protest was integral to democracy and that the government's responsibility was to protect protesters and address their grievances through dialogue.

Separately, Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha deputy leader Ghose submitted a notice under Rule 267 seeking suspension of the day's business in the Rajya Sabha on Monday to allow an immediate discussion on what she described as the "use of excessive force on student protestors during NEET examination protests".

Calling it a matter of grave national importance, Ghose said the right to peaceful protest was a constitutional right, but student protesters had allegedly been subjected to "lethal and semi-lethal force" by security agencies.

Her notice referred to reports of pellet gun injuries, "including the possible loss of vision of one student due to use of the pellet gun by the Rapid Action Force", and sought answers on who authorised the use of such weapons and what protocols were followed.

It also referred to eyewitness accounts alleging that individuals in plain clothes used coercive and violent methods against students.

A senior opposition leader said the resignation of Pradhan did not mark the end of the issue.

"Pradhan's resignation is not the full stop; it is only a semicolon. The Prime Minister should apologise to the students, while the Home Minister must explain where the pellets came from and who authorised their use. The role of the Home Minister has to be investigated. The youth have now handed the baton to Members of Parliament," the leader said.

The issue is expected to dominate proceedings when Parliament meets on Monday, with the Opposition preparing to target the government over the July 20 crackdown while the Centre seeks to push through fresh legislation to deal with paper leaks.

The first week of the Monsoon Session was washed out due to protests by the Opposition which had extended support to the CJI-led stir over the NEET issue

The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, listed for introduction in the Lok Sabha on Monday, proposes setting up fast-track courts in every state for paper leak cases and completion of investigations within two months.

– PTI

Delhi HC Advocate Deep Somani Advocate has written to SP Ghaziabad to take cognisance of offense over activist Satyam Pandit abusing, assaulting to young protestors going to Jantar Mantar.

Jan Suraaj founder and Bankipur Assembly by-election candidate Prashant Kishor on Sunday termed Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation as "the beginning of accountability", saying public pressure had forced the government to act.

Kishor said the issue was bigger than any political party and that public mobilisation could force those in power to respond.

"This is the beginning of accountability. Accountability is being enforced under public pressure. I always say that in this country, the opposition party can be weak. The opposition cannot be weak," he said.

Backing those who challenge what he called the government's "undemocratic behaviour", Kishor said, "We stand with anyone who wants to challenge this government's undemocratic behaviour and their work. Sonam Wangchuk is my friend. He's a prominent academic, environmentalist, and friend of ours. This isn't about a party; people have seen that if people stand up, if the public rises, even those in power will have to bow down."

He further said that the protests in Delhi were not limited to any one organisation and reflected wider frustration among young people.

"What you and I are seeing in Delhi wasn't a protest by one Sonam Wangchuk. The thousands of people who came to protest didn't carry CJP flags. They were ordinary young people, frustrated by the daily paper leaks, unemployment, and the crumbling education system," Kishor said.

On the arrest of Janshakti Janata Dal (JJD) national president Tej Pratap Yadav, Kishor said, "Tej Pratap announced his support yesterday, and at 1:30 am last night, Tej Pratap was arrested and sent to Beur Jail. This shows how scared these people are. Under what section was he arrested? Why was he arrested? The police administration should explain this."

"Dharmendra Pradhan had to leave, and that's not all, this is just the beginning. This isn't going to stop," he added.

Raising an issue related to election awareness activities, Kishor said, "The District Magistrate issued order. In which he stated that Jeevika Didi, would work for election awareness. We hope that the Election Commission, their observers, will take cognizance of this matter, and take action."

"If action isn't taken by tomorrow, we will go to the Election Commission and sit on a protest at their gate, along with my colleagues," Kishor added.

--= ANI

As per ANI, Punjab CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “It has been 4.5 years since the government was formed. Not a single paper has leaked in Punjab. We had received reports of cheating from two places. They were scanning the papers digitally with a Bluetooth pen and sending them out.”

He added, "They were getting the answers they wanted from outside. 10 minutes after the paper started, the students inside who were cheating were also caught and those who were getting the papers done from outside, who were charging ₹3-5 lakhs for a paper, they were also caught and put in jail. 21 people were caught in total and put in jail..."

At Shiv Sena People's Door campaign, as per PTI, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde reacts to CJP protest and said, “The protest has now come to an end. The demonstration at Jantar Mantar was led by the students, under the leadership of Abhijeet Dipke and Sonam Wangchuk. Prime Minister Narendra Modi took the matter very seriously. Prioritising the future of the students, he enacted a stringent law, imposing a 10-year prison sentence and a penalty of ₹10 crore, along with fast-track trial proceedings. The Prime Minister explicitly stated that no culprit will be spared.”

He added, "A CBI probe is currently underway, and the bill will be passed into law. Minister Dharmendra Pradhan took moral responsibility and tendered his resignation. Now that the protest is over, what is happening here is merely a race to steal credit. Wangchuk's wife herself stated that this is nothing but Congress' drama, a political gimmick."

Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Sunday slammed the Modi government, saying that the youth stood united to force the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan as Education Minister on the paper leak issue and that any government has to accept defeat when farmers and youth "fight back".

Talking with ANI, Revanth Reddy accused the Modi government of trying to suppress the issues raised by opposition parties and using probe agencies against political opponents.

He also accused PM Modi of trying to weaken opposition parties by splitting them in West Bengal, Delhi, and Maharashtra.

He said youth fought from the streets to Parliament and "defeated Modiji".

"Modi ji has become used to suppressing whatever issues the opposition raises by threatening them and filing cases against them. This time, he tried to intimidate the opposition using the ED, Income Tax Department, and the CBI. In West Bengal, Delhi, and Maharashtra, he also tried to weaken the opposition by splitting political parties," Reddy said.

"But this time, the entire youth came out onto the streets. From the streets to Parliament, the youth fought and defeated Modi ji. Whenever farmers and the youth begin to respond and fight back, any government has to accept defeat. This is the defeat that these people faced yesterday," he added.

Dharmendra Pradhan resigned as Education Minister yesterday following weeks of protests over NEET-UG paper leak and "examination irregularities", with students demanding transparency, accountability, and reforms in the examination system.

His resignation was a key demand of protestors. Opposition parties had been forcing adjournments in Parliament on the issue.

Pradhan said yesterday that he submitted his resignation to PM Modi in the interest of students and to ensure that the ongoing protests over examination irregularities were not exploited by "anti-national forces."

– ANI

“Honourable Prime Minister has given me this huge responsibility based in trust and belief. I was in Karnataka last night, this morning I have come here and have taken charge. I have been attending meetings to understand all the details and information about the ministry and its decisions. It is a new area of work for me, I have tried gaining best knowledge and have talked to senior officials. The department is quite big and thus I will prioritise understanding it first and then delivering,” Pralhad Joshi said, as per PTI.

Union Education Minister Pralhad Joshi said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had entrusted him with the responsibility "with full confidence" as he assumed charge of the ministry. Joshi said he was reviewing key matters, holding meetings with senior officials and familiarising himself with the functioning of the department before taking major decisions.

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Sunday alleged that Islamic fundamentalists, possibly backed by foreign forces, were behind the violence during the NEET protest in Kolkata. He said those responsible would face action under the state's anti-goonda law.

BJP Karnataka president BY Vijayendra welcomed Pralhad Joshi's appointment as Union Education Minister, saying the senior leader's vast administrative experience would benefit both the country and Karnataka. He also defended Joshi against criticism from the Congress.