CJP's Demands Unmet in NEET-UG Paper Leak Talks with Centre
Second Round of Talks Concludes Without Resolution
CJP spokesperson meeting Union ministers J.P. Nadda and Jitendra Singh for second round of talks on Friday (Photo: IANS)
New Delhi, July 24: The second round of discussions between the Centre and the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) regarding the NEET-UG paper leak issue concluded without any agreement on Friday. The CJP continues to insist on the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, despite nearly two hours of dialogue with government representatives.
Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda addressed the media following the meeting, stating that the talks were conducted in a friendly manner.
"The discussions lasted almost two hours. They presented three primary demands along with five suggestions for reform. We have listened to their concerns thoroughly and will reconvene tomorrow," Nadda mentioned.
Nonetheless, the CJP has made it clear that the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan is a demand that cannot be compromised.
According to CJP spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka, the government has requested until tomorrow afternoon to respond to their demand for Pradhan's resignation. They have agreed to two of the demands: providing compensation to the families of NEET aspirants who tragically took their own lives and dropping legal cases against the students.
Another spokesperson for the CJP, Saurav Das, indicated that the organization is also seeking a public apology from the Centre, the Rapid Action Force, and the Delhi Police for their actions during the "Sansad Chalo" march on July 20.
The CJP reiterated its call for a compensation of Rs 1 crore for the families of students who allegedly died by suicide after the cancellation of the NEET exam on May 3, the withdrawal of all FIRs against protesters, and the implementation of their five-point examination reform charter.
In a letter to the government, the CJP stated that it had consulted with supporters nationwide and reached a consensus that Pradhan's resignation, compensation for victims' families, and legal protection for protesters are non-negotiable. They warned that the protests would escalate if their demands are not met.
This meeting was the second round of negotiations after Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office Jitendra Singh had urged the CJP to engage in talks, emphasizing that the government is always open to dialogue.
Nadda confirmed that the government would consider the demands further before the next scheduled meeting on Saturday.
The discussions took place at the Constitution Club of India, following social activist Sonam Wangchuk's conclusion of a 26-day hunger strike after receiving assurances from the government, and shortly after the Union Cabinet approved a draft Bill aimed at imposing stricter penalties for paper leaks.