The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has reiterated its unwavering demand for the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, labeling the issue as "non-negotiable" following recent discussions with government representatives. The government, through Union Minister JP Nadda, has sought an extension until Saturday afternoon to provide a response to the CJP's primary demand.
Talks Yield Partial Agreements
Thursday's two-hour meeting at the Constitution Club marked the second round of negotiations between the CJP and the government. CJP national spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka confirmed that while two of their key demands received in-principle approval, the call for Minister Pradhan's resignation remains unmet.
- Agreed Demands: The government expressed agreement on providing compensation to the families of NEET aspirants who died by suicide and withdrawing FIRs and legal cases against students involved in protests.
- Outstanding Demand: The immediate resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
Ranka expressed optimism, stating, "We hope the govt will remove him soon." A third round of talks, involving Union Ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh, is scheduled for Saturday, indicating ongoing efforts to resolve the deadlock.
Context of the Month-Long Agitation
The demand for Pradhan's resignation has been central to the CJP's month-long protest campaign, primarily concentrated at Jantar Mantar. The movement escalated on July 20 when students attempting to march to Parliament faced forceful intervention. The CJP has issued warnings of intensifying their agitation if the minister does not step down, underscoring the high stakes involved in the ongoing negotiations.