The Cockroach Janta Party's indefinite protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar entered its 36th day on Saturday, with the focus now on the Centre's response after the second round of talks between the two sides.
The CJP has maintained that its three demands — exit of Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Rs 1 crore compensation for families of NEET-UG victims, and no legal action against protesters — are non-negotiable.
Union ministers J P Nadda and Jitendra Singh, who met the CJP delegation on Friday, had said they would convey the government's position on Saturday.
The group has been leading peaceful protest over alleged examination irregularities, including the NEET paper leak, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and greater accountability in the examination system. The agitation escalated after police resorted to a lathi charge and used tear gas to disperse protesters marching towards Parliament during the "Sansad Chalo" march.
Eighteen Delhi Metro stations in central Delhi remained closed for the fourth straight day on Saturday due to security concerns amid the ongoing Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest near the Jantar Mantar, PTI reported.
According to the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), the stations remain closed from 7.30 am until further instructions.
However, interchange facilities will be available at Rajiv Chowk, Mandi House and Central Secretariat stations.
The closed stations include Lok Kalyan Marg, Rajiv Chowk, Patel Chowk, Ramakrishna Ashram Marg, Barakhambha Road, Supreme Court, Seva Teerth, Janpath, Mandi House, Central Secretariat, ITO, Delhi Gate, Indraprastha, Khan Market, Jor Bagh, Shivaji Stadium, Jhandewalan, and New Delhi.
CJP spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka on Saturday morning said that "there is no point" in further discussions if the government is not willing to sack Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
"Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation is NON-NEGOTIABLE. If it’s a no from the government, there’s no point of further discussion," Ranka said in a post on X.
Ranka's statement comes hours before the third round of talks between CJP and the government, slated for Saturday afternoon.
Union ministers J P Nadda and Jitendra Singh, who met the CJP delegation on Friday, had said they would convey the government's position on Saturday.
Liquor shops across Delhi will shut two hours earlier than usual, at 8 pm instead of 10 pm, until the weekend ends in view of the the ongoing student protests at Jantar Mantar, PTI reported.
The decision follows an unannounced early closure of liquor shops on Thursday that left many customers surprised after they were turned away.
The decision was taken based on the police inputs flagging the prevailing situation due to the ongoing protest at Jantar Mantar," a senior Delhi government officer said.
The Centre has ordered the airlifting of 10 more companies of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) from Chhattisgarh to Delhi to strengthen security amid the ongoing student protests.
The latest move follows the deployment of 20 CRPF companies from West Bengal to Delhi earlier this week.
Officials said a security review meeting held on Thursday directed all Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) units scheduled to be deployed in Delhi ahead of Independence Day to report early.
Sonam Wangchuk has rejected allegations of striking a "deal" with the Centre and said he ended his 26-day hunger strike only after securing a written assurance as he feared an imminent crackdown on protesters in Delhi, recalling the 2025 firing on youths in Ladakh, and wanted to prevent any violence against students.
In a video message shared on X, Wangchuk dismissed allegations that he had struck a deal with the government, saying, "Do I need to prove my sincerity after a 26-day hunger strike?
"AFTER 26 DAYS OF HUNGER, DO I NEED TO PROVE MY SINCERITY!!!
Do please watch and help spread the word. Find the full 22-minute video on my YouTube channel: Sonam Wangchuk," he tweeted.
At their second round of talks on Friday, the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) told the government that its three demands — exit of Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Rs 1 crore compensation for NEET-UG victims, and no legal action against protesters — were non-negotiable.
Union ministers J P Nadda and Dr Jitendra Singh, the interlocutors who spoke to the CJP delegation at Vithalbhai Patel House, said they had heard the demands and will get back on Saturday. “They had three main demands and five reform suggestions for exams. We told them we will meet again tomorrow afternoon and share the government’s perspective,” Nadda said.
The deliberations, described as cordial by the ministers, reportedly saw the government agree to two demands — adequate compensation for the families of those who allegedly died by suicide following the paper leak, and the withdrawal of cases against the protesting youth.
However, indications are that the government will not ask Pradhan to quit. Instead, it intends to shift the focus towards sweeping reforms of the examination system through legislation and administrative measures.