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Published : 24 Jul 2026, 02:45 AM
Commuters' journeys and businesses have been disrupted in India's national capital as authorities have shut metro stations and blocked mobile internet services amid protests demanding the education minister's resignation over exam leaks.
A traders' association has urged all establishments in the business and commercial hub Connaught Place - adjoining the Jantar Mantar protest site in central Delhi - to close early because of the "critical situation".
The internet curbs have hit small businesses particularly hard in a city where the bulk of payments are made through the Unified Payments Interface on mobile phones.
Rakesh Yadav, 38, who runs a food stall, said his daily earnings have dropped from 5,000 rupees to barely 500 rupees since most people no longer carry cash.
"Make the education minister resign ... at least don't destroy our livelihood," he said.
Taxi driver Umesh Kumar, 24, has similarly seen his earnings fall to just 200 rupees a day, as he can no longer pick up passengers through his usual ride-hailing app, while those who flag him down rarely carry cash.
Reuters reporters were unable to access mobile internet in the area on Thursday evening, including at the protest site, at popular five-star hotels, and in the central business district.
Spokespeople for the government and the telecom department did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Reuters.
Two sources said the telecoms companies had complied with a government order to disable mobile data.
Meanwhile, the authorities have said some metro stations have been closed and there are also regular announcements on the trains.
Dolly Haldar, a finance professional, has seen her commute to work disrupted by the metro station closest to her office being shut.
"Our commute costs more, we are not able to reach our office on time, there is more rush on the way. Obviously we will be frustrated," she told Reuters.
The Cockroach Janta Party, which is spearheading the movement, says people will come for the protest despite the station closures.
Anant, 21, was among those enduring the metro disruptions to join the sit-in for the first time on Thursday.
"A good education system is the bare minimum, we should go to protest ... for our own future," he told Reuters while travelling in a train to find an alternate route to the protest site.
