The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on Friday reiterated that the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan remains its primary and non-negotiable demand during the second round of talks with the Centre, while the government sought time until Saturday afternoon to respond.
The nearly two-hour meeting at the Constitution Club in New Delhi was attended by Union ministers Jagat Prakash Nadda and Jitendra Singh. CJP leaders said the discussions were constructive, with the Centre agreeing in principle to two of the group's demands.
Speaking after the meeting, CJP national spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka said the government had agreed in principle to provide compensation to the families of NEET aspirants who died by suicide and to withdraw legal cases and first information reports (FIRs) against protesting students.
However, Ranka said the Centre had requested additional time to consider the demand for Pradhan's resignation. "The government has asked for time till tomorrow afternoon on our demand for Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation. We hope the government will remove him soon," he said.
Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda described the meeting as "cordial" but did not confirm whether the government had accepted any of the demands. He said the CJP had presented three key demands along with five suggestions for examination reforms, and both sides would meet again on Saturday.
The talks come amid continuing protests led by the CJP over alleged irregularities in national-level examinations. The demand for Pradhan's resignation has remained at the centre of the agitation, which intensified after demonstrators attempted to march to Parliament earlier this week.
The Centre has simultaneously stepped up efforts to address concerns surrounding examination reforms. The Union Cabinet has approved a Bill proposing tougher penalties for examination paper leaks, including imprisonment of up to 10 years and fines of up to Rs. 10 crore. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also announced the establishment of fast-track courts to handle paper leak cases.
The latest round of talks follows activist Sonam Wangchuk's decision to end his 25-day hunger strike after receiving assurances from the government that no action would be taken against peaceful student protesters.
A third round of discussions between the Centre and the CJP is scheduled for Saturday afternoon. |
