Jantar Mantar restored after 36-day CJP protest ends; Massive oversight clean-up clears 60 tonnes of waste
Babushahi Bureau
New Delhi, July 26, 2026: Jantar Mantar returned to normal on Sunday after the 36-day-long protest led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) over alleged examination irregularities and the NEET paper leak ended following the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
The protest site, which had witnessed weeks of demonstrations, slogans and makeshift camps, was cleared overnight as civic authorities launched an extensive clean-up operation to restore the area.
According to officials of the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC), around 60 tonnes of waste were removed during the operation. The clean-up began at 10 pm on Saturday and continued until early Sunday morning, involving more than 100 sanitation workers.
NDMC Chief Medical Officer Dr Ankita Rai said approximately 40 tonnes of waste were cleared during the night, followed by another 20 tonnes on Sunday morning.
She added that an earthmover was deployed to remove waste from areas that had remained inaccessible during the protest, while the entire site was washed to eliminate odours after weeks of continuous occupation.
The restoration drive also involved eight auto-tippers, two heavy trucks and three high-pressure jetting machines, officials said. NDMC Vice-Chairperson Kuljeet Singh Chahal personally supervised the overnight operation, including waste removal, cleaning and repair work.
By Sunday morning, the protest site had largely returned to its usual appearance. Temporary tents had been dismantled, graffiti had been removed and the streets surrounding Jantar Mantar were cleared of debris. However, police barricades remained in place on nearby roads as a precautionary measure.
The agitation, which began over alleged irregularities in competitive examinations, concluded on Saturday night after the CJP announced it was ending the protest following the resignation of the Union Education Minister.
Earlier, the CJP also shared updates on social media about its leader, Dipke, including a photograph of him receiving intravenous fluids after his prolonged participation in the protest and a video message in which he said he had finally been able to sleep peacefully after the movement concluded.
With demonstrators dispersing and civic workers completing restoration work, Jantar Mantar has resumed normal public activity, bringing to an end one of the capital’s longest student-led protest movements in recent months.