Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Jul 24: The Centre and the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) held another round of negotiations on Friday over the NEET paper leak controversy and the party’s demands, but the discussions ended without a breakthrough as the CJP continued to insist on the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
The nearly two-hour meeting, held at the Constitution Club of India, was attended by Union Ministers J.P. Nadda and Dr Jitendra Singh on behalf of the government, while CJP spokespersons Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka represented the protesting group.
Addressing the media after the meeting, Nadda described the discussions as constructive and said both sides would continue the dialogue.
“The meeting lasted for almost two hours. The delegation presented three principal demands and five suggestions for reforms. We have informed them that we will meet again tomorrow,” Nadda said.
He added that the talks were conducted in a cordial atmosphere and that the government had listened carefully to the concerns raised by the CJP delegation.
Despite the discussions, the CJP maintained that it would not compromise on its demand for the Education Minister’s resignation.
Speaking after the meeting, CJP spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka said the government had sought time until Saturday afternoon to respond to the demand for Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation.
“The government has asked for time till tomorrow afternoon regarding our demand for the Education Minister’s resignation. However, it has agreed in principle to two of our demands — compensation for the families of NEET aspirants who allegedly died by suicide and the withdrawal of legal cases against protesting students,” Ranka said.
Friday’s meeting marked the second round of talks between the Centre and the CJP, following the government’s renewed efforts to resolve the impasse through dialogue.
A day earlier, Union Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office Dr Jitendra Singh had appealed to the CJP to engage in discussions, stating that the government was prepared to hold talks at any time convenient to the protesting group.
The latest round of negotiations also comes shortly after social activist Sonam Wangchuk ended his 26-day hunger strike after receiving assurances from the government on key issues related to the NEET controversy and proposed reforms in the examination system.