New Delhi Municipal Council restores Jantar Mantar overnight after end of CJP protest
New Delhi, July 26
The New Delhi Municipal Council carried out an overnight clean-up operation at Jantar Mantar after the conclusion of the Cockroach Janata Party's month-long protest, with workers clearing garbage, washing roads and restoring the site before Sunday morning.
During a visit to the protest site, NDMC Vice Chairman Kuljeet Singh Chahal said the civic body had deployed all available resources to restore the area after protesters dispersed.
"After the protest ended yesterday and people began leaving, our entire NDMC team worked through the night. We cleaned the entire Jantar Mantar area, clearing garbage, washing the roads, repainting walls, and restoring the site. All our resources were deployed," Chahal told reporters.
The agitation, which lasted more than a month, concluded on Saturday following the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The protest had centred on the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak and alleged examination irregularities.
During the agitation, activist Sonam Wangchuk undertook a 26-day hunger strike that became a key rallying point for the movement. The protest gained further momentum after Delhi Police shifted Wangchuk from the protest site to Safdarjung Hospital. He was later moved to a private hospital in Gurugram on the directions of the Delhi High Court.
The movement reached its peak on July 20 with the 'Chalo Sansad' march, during which police took action against protesters, saying the demonstration had turned violent. The action drew criticism from Opposition parties, whose leaders later joined the protest at Jantar Mantar. Among them were Samajwadi Party MP Dimple Yadav, senior CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat, CPI MP P. Sandosh, former Delhi education minister Manish Sisodia and Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad.
Pradhan submitted his resignation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday, and it was subsequently accepted. In his resignation letter, he said he was stepping down in the larger interest of students to ensure that the country's youth do not become "trapped in a web of confusion".
"For more than four decades, I have been associated with students, teachers, and the cause of education reform. I have always believed that a strong, inclusive, and forward-looking education system is the foundation of a strong nation," Pradhan said.
Following the end of the agitation, the CJP said the government had agreed to provide suitable compensation to the families of NEET aspirants who died by suicide and assured the withdrawal of FIRs registered against protesters across the country.
The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) also announced that entry and exit gates at all stations across the Delhi Metro network had been reopened for passengers following the conclusion of the protest.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Respect to NDMC for cleaning up overnight 👏 But the real question is why did it take a minister resigning for this protest to end? Our students deserve better than this circus. The compensation for families who lost their kids is just a band-aid solution.
It's heartening to see the government listening to the people's voice. Dharmendra Pradhan ji stepping down was a bold move for students' sake. But we must also acknowledge the hard work of NDMC workers who worked through the night. Jai Hind! 🇮🇳
Sonam Wangchuk's 26-day hunger strike is incredibly inspiring. It shows what true dedication to a cause looks like. But I'm skeptical about the withdrawal of FIRs - are they really going to follow through? These promises often vanish once the cameras are gone.
As an outsider looking in, it's fascinating how India's democracy works - protests, resignations, overnight cleanups. The system seems to handle pressure creatively. Hope the NEET reforms come through for the students.
I'm glad the protest ended peacefully, but I can't help but feel for the students who lost their lives. No amount of compensation can bring back their dreams. The NEET system needs complete overhaul, not just a change of guard. Also, why were metro gates closed in the first place?
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.