CJP Delegation Meets Union Ministers J.P. Nadda, Jitendra Singh Over NEET Paper Leak Protest (Img: X)
New Delhi: The second round of talks between the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and the Centre ended on Friday without a final agreement. The government sought time until Saturday afternoon to respond to the demand for Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation.
The nearly two-hour meeting was held at the Constitution Club of India. Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda and Minister of State Dr. Jitendra Singh represented the government, while Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka represented the CJP.
After the meeting, Ashutosh Ranka said the delegation had held a detailed discussion with the government over Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation.
Delhi: On his meeting with Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) Chief Spokesperson Saurav Das and National Spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka, Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda says, "The representatives of the protestors came here to discuss the issues related to the movement. The discussion… pic.twitter.com/LaYwahqg2g
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Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) Chief Spokesperson Saurav Das said, "Even today, people are being detained without any reason. Those leaving Jantar Mantar to go home, those coming to Jantar Mantar, and even young people bringing food are being selectively detained by the police. Lawyers are also being manhandled. When we informed the government that this should not happen because there is a trust deficit among the people, they said nothing like this was happening. However, if it is happening, they assured us it would stop and that they would instruct the Delhi Police accordingly."
CJP National Spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka said, "We also had a detailed discussion with the government regarding the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan. We made it very clear that nothing short of his resignation or dismissal from the Cabinet will be acceptable. Across the country, wherever protests are taking place, the sentiment among the youth is very clear—that Dharmendra Pradhan has to resign or be sacked. The government sought time until tomorrow afternoon to respond on this issue. We informed them that protests are taking place across the country and will continue to grow..."
Ranka said the sentiment among protesting youths across the country was clear and that they wanted Pradhan to either resign or be removed from office. He added that the protests would continue and could expand further if the government failed to take a satisfactory decision.
The CJP claimed that the government had expressed in-principle approval to two other demands raised during the meeting.
These included compensation for the families of NEET aspirants who allegedly died by suicide and the withdrawal of FIRs and legal cases registered against students participating in the protests.
Ranka said the delegation was now waiting for a formal response from the government on these issues.
CJP Chief Spokesperson Saurav Das raised the issue of alleged police action against protesters around Jantar Mantar.
Das claimed that people leaving the protest site, those arriving to join the demonstration and even volunteers bringing food were being selectively detained by the police. He also alleged that lawyers were being manhandled.
According to Das, the delegation informed the government that such incidents were deepening the trust deficit among protesters. He said the government denied knowledge of such actions but assured the delegation that, if they were taking place, instructions would be issued to the Delhi Police to stop them.
Speaking after the meeting, J.P. Nadda said the discussions lasted nearly two hours and were conducted in a cordial atmosphere.
Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda says, "The representatives of the protestors came here to discuss the issues related to the movement. The discussion lasted for nearly two hours... The discussions were held in a cordial atmosphere, and every issue was discussed from all perspectives. They mainly had three demands and five suggestions, and these were discussed in detail..."
Nadda said the government would hold internal discussions and meet the delegation again on Saturday afternoon to communicate its response.
The Second round of talks on Friday which took place at the Constitution Club of India didn't have a conclusion as CJP firmly demanded Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation as non negotiable.
The first round was held on July 20 at Nadda’s residence. CJP representatives later alleged that they had been kept under “virtual detention” during the meeting and insisted that all future talks be held at a neutral venue.
The Constitution Club was subsequently chosen for the second round.
The meeting also came amid the government’s announcement of proposed reforms to curb paper leaks and examination fraud.
The Union Cabinet has approved the Paper Leak Amendment Bill, which proposes fast-track courts, time-bound action, imprisonment of up to 10 years and fines of up to ₹10 crore for serious offences.
The Bill is likely to be introduced in Parliament next week.
No final agreement was reached during Friday’s talks. The CJP said the demonstrations would continue until the government accepted its principal demand.
The Centre is expected to communicate its decision to the delegation by Saturday afternoon.
