If irony had an address this week, it would probably be Delhi. While the country continues to debate paper leaks, accountability and student anger, many on social media joked that one of the quickest visible responses has been cutting liquor shop hours.

The Delhi government has directed liquor shops across the national capital to shut by 8 pm until the end of the current weekend in view of the ongoing student protests.

The decision trims the usual closing time by two hours, with outlets that normally remain open until 10 pm now winding up business early.

The move follows police inputs over the prevailing law and order situation as demonstrations led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) continue around Jantar Mantar.

The early closure first caught several customers by surprise on Thursday, with many returning without purchasing alcohol.

The protests, led by students and young people under the CJP banner, have centred on alleged irregularities in the NEET examination.

Protesters have been demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, and the agitation escalated after the CJP's Parliament March on July 20 turned violent, leaving several protesters and a few police personnel injured.

On Friday, CJP spokespersons Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka held a two-hour meeting with Union ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh at Delhi's Vithalbhai Patel House.

After the meeting, Das reiterated that the outfit's demand for Pradhan's resignation was ‘non-negotiable’ and warned that the protests would intensify if the demand was not accepted.

The development came on the same day the Union Cabinet approved a draft bill proposing stricter punishments for paper leak cases, hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced in a midnight video message that legislation with tougher provisions would be introduced in Parliament.

Despite the discussions, government sources ruled out the possibility of Pradhan stepping down, saying resignation would be the easiest way out and asserting that the government would fulfil the mandate given by the people.

The early closure of liquor shops has since triggered widespread online reactions, with critics questioning the rationale behind the decision and many sarcastically linking it to the administration's handling of the broader controversy.