Shillong: Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan will keep his job. Government leaders claim he bears no personal blame for the NEET paper leak. A senior functionary said, “There is no question of resignation by the education minister. That question does not arise at all. You can’t blame the minister for the NEET paper leak as he was not personally involved.”
Protesters at Jantar Mantar remain unmoved. The Cockroach Janta Party, or CJP, continues its sit-in. Founder Abhijeet Dipke reported internet blackouts around the protest site. He warned police against using force. Spokesperson Saurav Das said the group will only meet Health Minister J.P. Nadda at a neutral venue. They refuse to visit government offices.
The CJP wants Pradhan sacked. They also demand 1 crore rupees in compensation for families of students who died by suicide. Other requirements include dropping all FIRs against protesters and securing a guarantee against future punishment. The protests have spread to Mumbai, Goa, and Jaipur.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi visited the site. He called the students' demands legitimate. He criticized the government for targeting youth rather than addressing flaws in the education system. Meanwhile, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh accused the opposition of manipulating the protests for political gain. J.P. Nadda recently met injured protesters and visited activist Sonam Wangchuk at Medanta Hospital in Gurugram. Wangchuk stated he will end his fast if the Centre promises no further punitive action against participants. The government maintains it is ready for parliamentary debate, provided the demands remain realistic.
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