Manish Sisodia Joins Jantar Mantar Protest Ahead of March to Parliament
Senior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Manish Sisodia joined a protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on Sunday, July 19, 2026, and announced his decision to join a march to Parliament the following day. The march, organized by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) for Monday, July 20, 2026, aims to demand an "education revolution" and raise concerns over national examination irregularities.
The demonstration at Jantar Mantar took place amid allegations by the AAP that education reform activist Sonam Wangchuk had been illegally detained by the Central government. The party claimed the detention was a deliberate attempt to block Wangchuk from participating in Monday's scheduled march to Parliament.
Speaking to the media at the protest site on Sunday afternoon, Sisodia urged the public to transcend political lines to support the cause. He stated that regardless of political affiliation, citizens should consider the future of their children's education and support the movement.
The controversy intensified following the hospitalisation of Wangchuk, who had been on the 21st day of a hunger strike demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. AAP leaders reported that Wangchuk was taken by the police and hospitalised on Saturday. At least 21 other individuals continued an indefinite hunger strike in solidarity.
In response to the developments, AAP national spokesperson and MP Sanjay Singh submitted a notice to the Rajya Sabha Secretary-General. The notice seeks a formal discussion under Rule 267 on the NEET paper leak, police actions against peaceful protesters, and the demands raised by Wangchuk.
AAP Chief Arvind Kejriwal also criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi, pointing to alleged irregularities in the NEET re-examination results and questioning the government's management of national examinations.
Meanwhile, Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Harsh Malhotra defended the government and challenged the motives behind the protests. Malhotra alleged that Wangchuk’s hunger strike was sponsored by opposition parties, including AAP, the Left, and the Congress, to disrupt the Monsoon Session of Parliament. He maintained that the NEET re-examination on June 21 had been conducted satisfactorily.
