CJP met JP Nadda twice today, govt gave no assurance on protesters' demands

CJP leaders met Health Minister JP Nadda twice on Monday, but the government offered no assurances regarding the protesters’ key demands, according to official sources. The meetings occurred amid ongoing demonstrations in central Delhi, where thousands of supporters of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) gathered under the “Sansad Chalo” banner, calling for accountability over alleged irregularities in competitive examinations and the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The first meeting between CJP representatives and Nadda took place around 11:50 am. During the session, the protesters outlined their concerns, including the unconditional release of activist Sonam Wangchuk, the removal of Pradhan, and a Rs 1 crore compensation for families of NEET aspirants who allegedly died by suicide following the NEET paper leak. CJP chief spokesperson Saurav Das and national spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka were present for both meetings. In the second session, held at approximately 4 pm, the group handed over a written memorandum to Nadda. Despite the formal submission, no promises were made by the minister concerning the specific demands. Nadda reportedly encouraged the protesters to discontinue their sit-in and assist in restoring normalcy. Government sources stated that the minister emphasized cooperation with authorities rather than engaging in prolonged demonstrations. Throughout the day, the Home Ministry remained actively involved, with Home Minister Amit Shah monitoring the situation and coordinating responses with senior officials. The protests, which began at Jantar Mantar on June 6, have grown significantly in recent weeks. The movement gained traction after activist Sonam Wangchuk joined the sit-in on June 20 and initiated a hunger strike. Wangchuk, who has been fasting for 23 days, was forcibly hospitalized at Safdarjung Hospital on Sunday due to declining health. His presence has become a focal point for the protesters, symbolizing their demand for justice and transparency. Authorities have countered the protesters’ claims by highlighting the scale of national entrance examinations. Over five million students participated in NEET, JEE, and CUET this year, with more than one million appearing in multiple exams. Officials noted that nearly four million candidates took part in various entrance tests nationwide. They also pointed out that most genuine applicants are currently engaged in counseling and admission procedures, which have already commenced in numerous educational institutions. This, they argue, makes it improbable that a large number of successful candidates would join the ongoing protests. Government sources further claimed that the examination results did not show widespread irregularities. They highlighted that many top-ranked candidates were first-time test-takers and hailed from disadvantaged backgrounds. Authorities defended their handling of the NEET controversy, stating that they acted quickly upon reports of the paper leak. A re-examination was conducted within a month, and actions were taken against individuals implicated in the leak. Despite these efforts, the CJP continues to push for greater accountability, arguing that systemic flaws in the conduct of competitive exams require action against senior officials and policymakers. The party maintains that the current measures fall short of addressing the broader issues affecting students and educators. As the protests persist, the government faces mounting pressure to provide clear resolutions to the protesters’ grievances.