The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) demanded that Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resign or be fired following a second round of talks in Delhi [2].
The demand marks an escalation in student-led protests centered on allegations of a NEET paper leak and broader grievances regarding education reform. The CJP's refusal to compromise puts pressure on the central government to address administrative failures in the national testing system.
Talks between the group and government representatives took place at the Constitution Club, while protests continued at Jantar Mantar [2]. CJP spokesperson Abhijeet Dipke said, "Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan must resign or be fired" [1].
Representatives for the CJP said that nothing short of Pradhan's resignation is acceptable [2]. The group has maintained that student protests will continue until the demand is met. The movement has gained visibility through high-profile activism, including a hunger strike by Sonam Wangchuk that lasted 26 days [1].
Following the second round of meetings [2], the government has requested more time to respond to the demand. A CJP spokesperson said the government has sought time until Saturday afternoon on Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation [2].
The CJP maintains that the minister's removal is the only viable path toward restoring trust in the examination process. The group has signaled that the resignation is a non-negotiable condition for ending the current unrest [2].
“"Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan must resign or be fired."”
The CJP's insistence on a high-level resignation indicates that student activists are no longer satisfied with systemic promises of reform. By tying the resolution of the NEET paper leak controversy to the personal accountability of the Education Minister, the movement is attempting to force a political concession to ensure a total overhaul of the examination board's security protocols.
