Jantar Mantar Protest: Internet Cut, Tear Gas Fired as Crowd Grows

Tear Gas Deployed at Sansad Marg

Delhi Police fired tear gas shells at Sansad Marg on Wednesday afternoon as a protest at Jantar Mantar swelled into a large crowd. The demonstrators, mostly students and parents, gathered to demand action over alleged paper leaks in national examinations.

Mobile internet services in parts of central Delhi were suspended hours before the protest began. Officials cited law-and-order concerns as the reason for the shutdown.

Traffic on roads leading to Parliament Street was diverted. Commuters faced delays as security personnel barricaded several intersections.

Centre Hits Back at Rahul Gandhi

The protest erupted a day after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accused the government of covering up irregularities in the NEET exam. Speaking in Parliament, Gandhi had alleged that paper leaks had become a pattern under the current administration.

Responding to the charge, a Union minister said on the floor of the House, “Why are you so selective?” The minister argued that only a few cases had been highlighted and that the government was open to a full discussion inside Parliament, not on the streets.

BJP president JP Nadda also weighed in, accusing Gandhi of politicising the NEET paper leak. Nadda said the government had offered to debate the matter in Parliament and that the opposition was avoiding it.

Government's Offer: Debate Inside the House

The Centre reiterated its position that any discussion on exam irregularities must take place within Parliament. “It is the responsibility of the government and the opposition to protect the future of our children,” the Union minister stated.

Officials said the government has already formed a committee to look into the leak allegations. They urged protestors to wait for the panel’s findings rather than taking to the streets.

Police presence was heightened across Lutyens' Delhi. Several metro stations reported restricted entry as a precautionary measure.

Protestors Demand Answers

The crowd at Jantar Mantar grew through the afternoon. Many carried placards reading “Future Not for Sale” and “Stop the Leaks.”

Students from multiple states said they had travelled to Delhi because they felt unheard. “Our careers are at stake. We want a clear statement on how the government plans to stop this,” one protestor said.

Organisers claimed the gathering was peaceful until police moved in. Eyewitnesses said the tear gas was fired after a section of the crowd tried to push past barricades near Sansad Marg.

No official casualty figures have been released. Local hospitals reported treating a handful of people for tear gas inhalation.

The next few hours will determine whether the protest escalates or disperses. All eyes are on Parliament, where both sides are expected to continue trading charges over the exam leaks.