The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), which has been spearheading protests over the alleged NEET paper leak, is set to meet Union ministers at 12:30 pm on Friday at the Constitution Club of India, even as its agitation continues at Jantar Mantar.
Protesters remained at the site on Friday morning, with CJP spokesperson Saurav Das saying the demonstrations would continue alongside talks with the Centre. He expressed hope for an “open-minded dialogue” during the meeting.
Meanwhile, on Gold 101.3FM, the UAE’s No. 1 radio station, activist Sonam Wangchuk’s decision to end his 26-day indefinite hunger strike has emerged as another major development. Wangchuk ended his fast late Thursday after Union ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh met him at Medanta Hospital in Gurugram and conveyed the Centre’s assurances on several of his demands. He remains hospitalised and later posted on X that he had broken his fast in the presence of the ministers and senior leaders from the Apex Body of Leh Ladakh.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also announced that the Centre will introduce a bill in Parliament next week providing for stringent action against paper leaks. He said the proposed legislation would be approved by the Union Cabinet before being tabled during the second week of the Monsoon Session. Calling paper leaks a serious issue affecting lakhs of students, Modi said those accused in the alleged NEET paper leak had been arrested and assured that the government was working to ensure students did not lose an academic year. He also said fast-track courts had been set up to expedite such cases.
The Congress, however, dismissed the announcement as an “eyewash”. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said the Prime Minister failed to address demands for accountability or acknowledge the ongoing student protests, while Rahul Gandhi criticised Modi for not responding to calls for Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation.
