For nearly a month, the Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP) protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar was the face of the agitation over the alleged NEET-UG 2026 paper leak. But within 24 hours of Rahul Gandhi leading a march towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence, the conversation had shifted – from students at Jantar Mantar to the Congress leader’s detention, Parliament protests and a political slugfest between the Opposition and the BJP.
AAP now claims that, in the process, the original movement has been pushed into the background. Congress rejects that suggestion, saying it has only amplified the students’ demands. Meanwhile, the CJP has repeatedly stressed that its protest remains confined to Jantar Mantar.
Here’s how the political battle unfolded.
How did the CJP become the face of the anti-paper leak movement?
For nearly a month, the CJP has anchored a student-led protest at Jantar Mantar over the alleged NEET-UG 2026 paper leak. The protesters have sought an end to repeated examination irregularities, reforms to the examination system and the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
The movement has also been backed by activist Sonam Wangchuk, whose fast became one of the defining features of the agitation.
Even after clashes between protesters and Delhi Police during the “Sansad Chalo” march, the organisation continued to maintain its base at Jantar Mantar, positioning the protest as a student-led movement rather than a party campaign.
How Rahul Gandhi changed the course of the protest
The political focus shifted after Rahul Gandhi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other senior leaders marched towards Lok Kalyan Marg, demanding accountability over the paper leak issue and the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan.
Rahul Gandhi and several Congress leaders were detained by Delhi Police during the protest.
The Congress followed it up by staging demonstrations inside and outside Parliament, with Opposition MPs wearing black clothes in protest against the detention of leaders and the alleged police action against students.
Congress leaders also met injured students and repeatedly asserted that they were amplifying the demands of the protesters.
As a result, the political conversation quickly moved beyond Jantar Mantar, centring instead on Rahul Gandhi’s detention, the Congress-BJP confrontation and protests outside the Prime Minister’s residence.
Why is AAP accusing Congress of weakening the movement?
AAP leaders were quick to question the timing and impact of the Congress protest.
Former Delhi Chief Minister Atishi alleged that while the CJP and Sonam Wangchuk had protested for nearly a month without receiving any response from the Centre, the government initiated talks soon after Rahul Gandhi’s demonstration outside the Prime Minister’s residence.
In a post on X, she wrote:
“CJP and Sonam Wangchuk: One month protest at Jantar Mantar. Modi govt refuses to talk to them. Rahul Gandhi: Allowed to protest outside PM residence. In one hour Modi Govt starts dialogue. Wah! Kya jugalbandi hai!”
Also very interesting: the same Delhi Police that was not allowing CJP to move even 100 metres towards Parliament, allowed Rahul Gandhi to reach right outside PM Residence!
Do we need any more evidence that Congress-BJP is one unit? #BJPCongressEkHain https://t.co/G7z9S7EI4q
— Atishi (@AtishiAAP) July 21, 2026
AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh went a step further, alleging that the Congress protest was weakening the original student movement.
He claimed that the Modi government had “seated Rahul Gandhi on a dharna at his residence” to weaken the CJP protest.
In another post, Singh accused Congress of asking people to join Rahul Gandhi’s protest instead of the one at Jantar Mantar.
“For the past 23 days, Wangchuk ji has been on a fast unto death. The youth movement is taking place at Jantar Mantar… Why does the Congress want to weaken the youth movement? Why doesn’t the Congress appeal to join the Jantar Mantar movement?”
AAP leader Anurag Dhanda echoed the charge, alleging that Congress was attempting to divert media attention away from the students’ agitation.
“The Prime Minister has effectively invited Rahul Gandhi to stage a sit-in outside his own residence… a deliberate attempt to divert attention away from the hundreds of injured students at Jantar Mantar,” Dhanda claimed.
What did the CJP say after Rahul Gandhi’s call?
As the Congress protest gathered momentum, the CJP issued a public clarification distancing itself from any demonstrations outside Jantar Mantar.
In a statement on X, the organisation said:
“Cockroach Janta Party has not given a call to assemble anywhere but at Jantar Mantar, where our peaceful protest is on.”
It also claimed to have received reports that “some goons” might create disturbances elsewhere in Delhi and asserted that such people were “not with CJP.”
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT
Cockroach Janta Party has not given a call to assemble anywhere but at Jantar Mantar, where our peaceful protest is on.
We received reports that some goons may have been sent to other parts of Delhi to create nuisance. They are NOT with CJP.
— Cockroach is Back (@Cockroachisback) July 21, 2026
The clarification came after Congress leaders appealed to people to join their protest, reinforcing the CJP’s position that its official movement continued only from Jantar Mantar.
What is Congress saying?
Congress has rejected suggestions that it was competing with the student movement.
Instead, party leaders have argued that they were raising the same demands inside Parliament and on the streets.
Rahul Gandhi met injured students, while Congress leaders continued demanding the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan and accountability for the alleged paper leak.
On Wednesday, Opposition MPs wore black clothes in Parliament to protest against the detention of Rahul Gandhi and the police action against students.
Congress leaders maintained that they would continue supporting the students’ demands irrespective of police action.
Why does this political battle matter?
The immediate issue remains the alleged NEET-UG paper leak and the demands for examination reforms.
However, within the Opposition, another contest has emerged over who represents that movement politically.
AAP’s statements suggest it believes the Congress shifted public attention away from the month-long agitation at Jantar Mantar by turning the issue into a confrontation centred on Rahul Gandhi’s protest outside the Prime Minister’s residence.
Congress, on the other hand, maintains that it merely elevated the students’ concerns to the national stage.
Whether the spotlight ultimately remains on the student movement or on the political contest surrounding it could shape the next phase of the anti-paper leak campaign.