New Delhi, July 24: The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on Friday said its agitation at Jantar Mantar will continue until Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigns, despite activist Sonam Wangchuk ending his 26-day hunger strike after receiving written assurances from the Union Government on NEET-related concerns and examination reforms.
Addressing the media, CJP spokesperson Deepak Balyan said the protest would continue indefinitely, asserting that the students’ primary demand is the resignation of the Education Minister to ensure accountability.
Balyan said the government’s assurance of introducing fast-track courts to deal with examination paper leak cases was not enough to address the concerns of protesting students. He claimed that repeated controversies had eroded the trust of students and alleged that they had been let down on several occasions.
He said the CJP delegation was scheduled to meet government representatives at a neutral venue and would place three key demands before them: the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan, compensation of â‚ą1 crore for those affected, and reforms in the country’s education and competitive examination system.
The CJP spokesperson also welcomed Sonam Wangchuk’s decision to end his hunger strike, saying his health had deteriorated after fasting for 26 days. He described Wangchuk as being fully supportive of the students’ movement and said his decision to end the fast did not indicate any difference with the protesters.Meanwhile, CJP president Abhijeet Dipke reiterated the party’s demand for the resignation of the Education Minister, stating on social media that accountability must be fixed over the ongoing examination controversies.
Meanwhile, Sonam Wangchuk ended his hunger strike at Medanta Hospital in the presence of Union Ministers J.P. Nadda and Jitendra Singh after receiving written assurances from the Union Government regarding the NEET examination issue and broader reforms in the competitive examination system.
Wangchuk said he had insisted on written assurances from the government and continued his fast for two additional days until they were provided.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also assured strict action against those responsible for alleged examination paper leaks and said the Union Cabinet would consider a draft Bill proposing fast-track courts and stringent punishment for offenders.