Barricades broke, tear gas thrown, crowds surged: Inside July 20's student protest

Published 26 July 2026 · local

The first day of Parliament’s Monsoon Session usually begins with security drills, political calculations and the familiar churn of protests and counter-protests. But on July

The first day of Parliament’s Monsoon Session usually begins with security drills, political calculations and the familiar churn of protests and counter-protests. But on July 20, as Parliament prepared to witness another day of political confrontation inside, a different kind of unrest was gathering outside. By around 11 am, the sound of slogans began to rise near Vijay Chowk. At first, it was difficult to tell where the noise was coming from. Then the message arrived: a massive student march led by the CJP had moved from Jantar Mantar towards Parliament. Read Full Story Within minutes, the area around Rail Bhavan had changed. What followed was a tense, hours-long standoff that stretched from Rail Bhavan and the Agriculture Ministry to Rafi Marg, Raisina Road, Kartavya Path, Vayu Seva Bhavan and Seva Teerth Metro Station. Students pushed against barricades, police tried to hold the security perimeter, mobile internet services were suspended and thousands kept moving through the streets. This is what July 20 looked like from the ground. A MORNING THAT BEGAN LIKE ANY OTHER PARLIAMENT DAY The morning had begun at Vijay Chowk, where preparations for the first day of the Monsoon Session were underway. Around 8 am, the focus was on live reporting from the Parliament comple the likely disruptions, the Opposition’s strategy and the government’s plans for the day. Security was tighter than usual. Delhi Police, the CRPF and other paramilitary personnel were deployed across the area. On the first day of a Parliament session, such arrangements are not unusual. But there was no indication that within a few hours, the same stretch of central Delhi would become the centre of one of the biggest student demonstrations of the day. Around 11 am, the noise began. The slogans grew louder. Security officials began discussing where the sound was coming from. Then a fellow reporter arrived at Vijay Chowk in a hurry with the news: the CJP-led student march had already begun moving towards Parliament. At the same time, reports of Opposition protests inside Parliament were emerging. But outside, a much larger confrontation was taking shape. I left the Parliament complex and moved towards Rail Bhavan. By the time I reached the area, the scene had changed completely. Hundreds of protesters had reached Rail Bhavan, the Agriculture Ministry, the Parliament entry points, Rafi Marg and the Raisina Road crossing. Within minutes, the main entrances of Rail Bhavan and the Agriculture Ministry were shut. The security cordon around the new Parliament building was strengthened. The slogans were loud and clear. “Dharmendra Pradhan resign.” “Stop paper leaks.” “Justice for students.” “Compensation for students who died by suicide.” The crowd was angry.