Shillong: The Cockroach Janta Party remains locked in a standoff with the federal government. On Friday, party spokespersons Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka met with Union ministers J.P. Nadda and Jitendra Singh at Vithalbhai Patel House. They want Dharmendra Pradhan gone. The group insists the Education Minister must step down following widespread NEET examination irregularities.
The two-hour session failed to break the deadlock. A third round of negotiations starts Saturday at 3.30 pm. The CJP demands a formal apology for the July 20 police action against students. They also seek Rs 1 crore in compensation for the families of NEET aspirants who died by suicide after the May 3 test cancellation. The party wants immunity from legal action for all protesters. "We told the Union ministers that our demand for the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan is non-negotiable," Das told reporters.
The government stands firm. Cabinet sources confirm support for Pradhan. Simultaneously, the Union Cabinet approved a draft amendment to the Public Examinations Act, 2024. The new bill targets exam cheats. It sets a minimum five-year prison term. Organised leaks could lead to 10 years in jail and Rs 10 crore in fines. Officials intend to present this legislation to Parliament on Monday.
Tensions remain high at the protest site. Delhi Police used facial recognition technology to scan the crowds at Jantar Mantar. Sources claim the units identified over 2,500 people with criminal records. Officers insist this surveillance targets only wanted individuals and habitual offenders. Elsewhere, Chief Justice of India Surya Kant slammed media reports claiming he blocked an urgent hearing on police brutality. He confirmed no formal petition exists. The CJI called those reports reckless.
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