As of late evening on 21 July 2026, the Cockroach Janta Party protest at Jantar Mantar remains active despite the previous day’s heavy police action.

After Delhi Police dismantled the stage, tents and banners on 20 July, protesters returned overnight and during the day. Ground reports put the number present between 200 and 500 at various points. A makeshift stage was rebuilt and slogans demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan continued. CJP leaders have publicly stated that the agitation will not end until their core demands are met: Pradhan’s resignation, compensation for families of students who died by suicide linked to exam irregularities, and the release of activist Sonam Wangchuk from hospital custody.

Wangchuk remains on hunger strike at Safdarjung Hospital. The Delhi High Court has allowed his shift to Medanta Hospital. He has accepted oral rehydration but has not ended the fast. Several student leaders who were also fasting earlier broke their strike.

Security around Jantar Mantar and central Delhi stays tight, with Rapid Action Force and police personnel deployed. Police continue to cite injuries to 118 of their personnel from the previous day’s clashes and have registered multiple FIRs. Protesters and opposition leaders maintain that excessive force was used against students.

Political reactions intensified through the day. Arvind Kejriwal visited injured students at RML Hospital and announced a legal-medical helpline for those detained or hurt. Congress leaders including Mallikarjun Kharge criticised the police action in Parliament and publicly. Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi also issued statements supporting the students.

On a parallel front, farmers under the Desh Bachao Morcha who had marched toward Delhi against the proposed India-US trade deal were stopped at the sealed Shambhu Border. After talks with the Haryana Agriculture Minister, two demands — release of leader Gurnam Singh Charuni and facilitation of a meeting with the Union Agriculture Minister — were accepted. Many farmers began returning after submitting a memorandum. Their next steps remain under discussion.

The student protest at Jantar Mantar shows no sign of immediate dispersal. With the monsoon session of Parliament underway and multiple political actors now engaged, the coming days will test whether dialogue replaces confrontation or whether the standoff deepens further.