JP Nadda holds talks with CJP leaders as protest intensifies

A Cockroach Janta Party delegation met Union Health Minister JP Nadda after protesters attempted to march to Parliament over alleged examination irregularities. The party said Nadda sought time to discuss its demands with the government, while protests continued amid heavy police action

New Delhi: A two-member delegation of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on Monday met Union Health Minister JP Nadda, who initiated talks on behalf of the government after protesters led by the outfit stormed into central Delhi and tried to march towards Parliament.

The CJP said Nadda had assured them that he would hold internal discussions and requested some time to consult the government leadership on the party’s demands, including the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged examination irregularities.

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Official sources confirmed that the CJP representatives met Nadda, who initiated the government’s outreach to the protesters. They said discussions within the government on the CJP protest were underway and there was a possibility of the government issuing a formal statement.

CJP chief spokesperson Saurav Das said he, along with the party’s national spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka, met the Health Minister at his residence for about 10 minutes.

“After waiting for more than 2 hours, @AshutoshRanka and I just met J P Nadda ji at his residence for 10 minutes. While we submitted a written letter with our demands, he has assured us that he will meanwhile speak internally. We are in that process. There is news of mass detention etc,” Das said in a post on ‘X’.

This comes as thousands of protesters gathered near Parliament Street and tried to march towards Parliament, demanding accountability over alleged examination irregularities and the resignation of Education Minister Pradhan, despite a baton charge by security personnel.

Ranka said Nadda had requested some time to consult the government leadership on the CJP’s demands, including the immediate release of Sonam Wangchuk, the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan and Rs 1 crore compensation for all NEET aspirants who allegedly died by suicide.

Ranka said it was only late on Sunday night that the Deputy Commissioner of Police, New Delhi, reached out to open a channel of communication with the government.

He said more serious discussions began only at 6 am on Monday, and it was only around 11:45 am that there was “an alignment on meeting Nadda ji”.

“We finally met Nadda ji 10 mins ago and he is checking with the leadership internally wrt our demands. @DelhiPolice should immediately stop using brute force on peaceful protestors,” Ranka wrote on ‘X’ at 2:48 pm.

Protesters participating in the Cockroach Janta Party’s Parliament march on Monday refused to disperse despite heavy police barricading, a lathi charge and the use of tear gas, and raised slogans demanding the resignation of Pradhan.

The march, which witnessed the participation of students and people from across Delhi, was stopped near Parliament Street, where police had put up multiple layers of barricades.

Many protesters said they had anticipated resistance but were determined to continue their demonstration.