The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) emphasized its unwavering stance on not negotiating for Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation due to exam paper leaks. Founder Abhijeet Dipke stated that the protest will persist until Pradhan steps down and urged activist Sonam Wangchuk to end his hunger strike for his safety and the nation’s benefit. Wangchuk, on his 26th day of fasting at Gurugram’s Medanta Hospital, expressed readiness to cease his strike if the Centre guaranteed no repercussions for protesters.
Dipke criticized the government for prolonged delays during talks, highlighting a mere 10-minute conversation after a five-hour wait with Union Minister J.P. Nadda. He insisted that any future discussions must occur at the protest site at Jantar Mantar. Responding to Nadda’s accusation of politicizing the agitation, Dipke challenged him to retire if he disdains politics, asserting their pursuit of justice for students.
CJP’s national spokesperson, Ashutosh Ranka, commended the massive turnout at Jantar Mantar and nationwide protests, characterizing it as a movement empowering the youth to demand their rights fearlessly. Ranka reiterated the demand for Pradhan’s resignation, emphasizing no room for negotiation. He attributed the recurring paper leaks to incompetence and corruption within the system, particularly targeting Pradhan as the epitome of this issue.
