Delhi University Advisories and Police Crackdown Amid Jantar Mantar Student Protests
The University of Delhi issued an advisory urging students and faculty to stay away from Jantar Mantar, warning that participation in unauthorised assemblies could threaten personal safety, academic progress and invite legal action under Supreme Court directives. Similar warnings were released by Jawaharlal Nehru University and the Association of Indian Universities, which urged students to focus on studies.
Opposition leaders, notably Rahul Gandhi, condemned the advisories as attempts to silence democratic rights, posting on X that the university was threatening students and must be held accountable. The protests, led by the Cockroach Janta Party, demanded accountability for alleged NEET‑UG 2026 paper leaks, reforms to the examination system and the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. On 25 July, Pradhan resigned, prompting celebratory chants and dances at Jantar Mantar.
Police deployed thousands of personnel, using tear‑gas, baton and pellet‑gun charges during the July 20 “Sansad Chalo” march, injuring over 130 officers and dozens of protesters. The Delhi Police also erected extensive barricades around the protest site. The United Nations reiterated the right to peaceful assembly, urging security forces to protect demonstrators. The unrest spread to other Indian cities and overseas diaspora gatherings, underscoring the national scale of the movement.