NEW DELHI — Hours ahead of the scheduled third round of talks with Union Ministers, the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has hardened its position, declaring the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan as “non-negotiable” and threatening to walk away from further negotiations.
The ultimatum comes despite the Union Government agreeing in principle to the group’s other core demands during the second round of discussions held at the Constitution Club on Friday.
Core Demands & Government Position
The negotiations between CJP representatives and Union Ministers J.P. Nadda and Jitendra Singh remain deadlocked over ministerial accountability:
-
Key Demands Accepted in Principle: The Centre has indicated agreement on waiving legal action against student demonstrators and considering financial compensation for families of aspirants who died by suicide following the NEET paper leak.
-
The Sticking Point: CJP spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka emphasized that structural shifts and official dismissals are insufficient without political accountability, making Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation a baseline requirement for continuing dialogue.
-
Government Standpoint: Government sources maintained that a ministerial resignation is not on the cards, stating that the leadership stands firmly behind the minister and focuses on systemic delivery and reforms rather than political concessions.
Administrative Reforms & Legal Safeguards
While political talks remain tense, the Centre has implemented a series of rapid structural overhauls to address examination integrity:
-
NTA Restructuring: The government replaced the Education Secretary and removed 47 officials from the National Testing Agency (NTA), promising a complete institutional overhaul.
-
Fast-Track Courts & Stricter Penalties: Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the creation of fast-track courts specifically to try paper leak cases, alongside proposed legislative amendments to drastically increase fines and prison sentences for examination malpractice.
