“20 July should be declared ‘Coward Day'”: Opposition MPs slam government over police action on protestors in Delhi

New Delhi : Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Tuesday took a sharp dig at the government over the police action during a protest in the national capital, sharing images purportedly showing police personnel detaining protestors and saying that July 20 should be observed as “Coward Day”.
“20 July should be declared as Coward Day Jai Hind!” Raut said in a post on X, while sharing an image showing police action against student protestors.
Congress RS MP Pawan Khera also slammed the Government saying that they would have to face the constitution, “Add yesterday’s shameful chapter to the long list of injustices inflicted upon the youth of this country–when, at the behest of those in power, the sons and daughters of this nation were subjected to oppression and brutality. But those who were beating the country’s youth today on the orders of the powers that be will have to face the stick of the Constitution tomorrow.” Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Mahua Moitra also took a swipe at the government over the police action, sharing a photograph depicting a tense face-off between police personnel and protestors.
“World’s largest democracy- take that!” Moitra said in a post on X. The Opposition leaders’ remarks came amid intensified protests by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) over the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak and demands for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
A CJP delegation met Union Health Minister JP Nadda on Monday and pressed its demands, including Pradhan’s resignation, compensation of Rs 1 crore to the families of NEET aspirants who lost their lives and the immediate release of activist Sonam Wangchuk, who is undergoing treatment at Safdarjung Hospital.
CJP chief spokesperson Saurav Das said the protest would continue until Pradhan resigns. Nadda, who is also Leader of House in the Rajya Sabha, said that a proposal had come from the protesters to hold talks with the government and appealed to them to end their sit-in.
Meanwhile, the protest march towards Parliament turned violent, with Delhi Police claiming that more than 118 police personnel were injured in the clashes. Around 60 protesters were also reported to have sustained injuries.
According to Delhi Police, protesters allegedly attacked police personnel with stones and other objects, attempted to breach barricades, vandalised police and government vehicles and damaged public property.
The Delhi Police has now registered FIRs against unidentified persons in connection with alleged vandalism of vehicles and stone-pelting in Connaught Place and Parliament Street during the protest, police sources said on Tuesday.
The FIRs have been registered at the Parliament Street and Connaught Place police stations under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including those related to rioting, violence, vandalism, damage to public property and obstruction of government employees in the discharge of their duties, sources said.
Police also alleged that some protesters snatched police gear, including jackets and helmets, during the protest at Jantar Mantar.
According to police, miscreants allegedly vandalised police vehicles and pelted stones at a police team near Regal Cinema in the Outer Circle of Connaught Place. Further investigation into the incident is underway.
Sonam Wangchuk, who has been on a hunger strike at Jantar Mantar demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET exam paper leak, was taken to Safdarjung Hospital by Delhi Police on July 18.