Overview
- The Cockroach Janta Party student sit-in that began in early June has grown into a sustained national protest calling for Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation over alleged NEET exam leaks.
- The ‘Sansad Chalo’ march on July 20 saw confrontations with Delhi Police that reporters and videos said included lathi charges, tear gas and dozens of detentions, leaving several protesters injured.
- Sonam Wangchuk ended his 26‑day hunger strike late Thursday night after negotiations involving government representatives, a move sources say was aimed at averting further violence.
- A surge of Bollywood figures issued public statements of solidarity after recent clashes and a prime ministerial tweet promising action, but commentators criticized the timing and template‑like nature of many posts; some actors did join or face detention on the ground.
- The protests focus on alleged high‑stakes NEET paper leaks that affect medical aspirants and have prompted students to demand systemic reforms; the next steps to watch are formal government probes, any accountability measures, and whether celebrity pressure translates into political or legal action.