Delhi police clash with youth protesters on July 20

Violent clashes between police and thousands of young protesters demanding the resignation of India's education minister injured scores and caused major disruptions in central Delhi on July 20, 2026. The confrontation, which occurred on the opening day of Parliament's Monsoon Session, has escalated into a significant political challenge for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government.

The protest was organized by the youth-led Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) under the banner "Sansad Chalo" or "March to Parliament." It centered on demands for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged irregularities, including paper leaks, in the NEET-UG 2026 medical entrance exam. Protesters linked the leaks, which affected over two million students and forced a retest, to about a dozen student suicides. Additional demands included financial compensation for affected families and the release of activist Sonam Wangchuk, who had been on a hunger strike since late June.

Police stated the gathering did not have permission for a march and deployed extensive barricades around Parliament. Officials reported that the crowd turned violent, with protesters attempting to breach...