New Delhi: The protest site at Jantar Mantar came alive again this week as students regrouped, refusing to let a violent police crackdown break their resolve. Tuesday marked the 32nd day of an agitation that has grown into one of the most talked-about student movements in recent years, with young protesters demanding accountability over alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG examination.
The demonstrators, backed by leaders of the Cockroach Janta Party, gathered once more at the site, calling for Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to step down over the paper leak controversy. Art installations, satirical posters, and messages of solidarity filled the area, turning the protest into something between a political rally and a public art space. Deccan Herald
Just a day earlier, thousands had tried marching toward Parliament as part of a larger “Sansad Chalo” call, timed with the opening of the Monsoon Session. Police used tear gas and batons to break up the crowd, and officials later said close to 180 people were hurt, including both protesters and security personnel. Despite the injuries and heavy police presence, students refused to leave. NPR
Twenty-year-old student Sona Bisht, who joined the protest, said the clash only made her more determined, insisting that Gen Z wouldn’t back down that easily. Her words echoed what many young protesters at the camp were feeling — tired, but not ready to walk away. NPR
Organizers have said talks with the government can only happen at Jantar Mantar itself, not anywhere else. For now, the students say they’re staying put until their demands are heard.
