CJP Leader Abhijeet Dipke Insists on Dharmendra Pradhan’s Resignation as Second Round of Talks with Centre Begins

Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke continues demanding Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation as second round of talks with the Centre begins over NEET paper leak protests. The government holds discussions at the Constitution Club of India while student groups demand accountability and reforms in the education system.

Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke has reiterated that nothing less than the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan will be acceptable, as his organisation began the second round of discussions with the Central government over the ongoing student protests linked to the NEET paper leak controversy.

“If the government wants a solution to the protest, it is only the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan,” said Dipke, the 30-year-old leader.

“We will not back down. Nothing short of a resignation is acceptable,” he said, reaffirming the demand that has remained at the centre of the protest movement.

When asked whether he would consider ending the protest if climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, who ended his 26-day hunger strike late Thursday night after receiving government assurances on his key demands, appealed to him to withdraw the agitation, Dipke rejected the possibility.

“This movement no longer belongs solely to Abhijeet Dipke and Sonam Wangchuk. It has become a movement of the youth across the entire nation, which is why protests are taking place throughout the country. Therefore, nothing short of resignation is acceptable,” he stated.

The CJP, which has been leading the student protests and demanding the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET paper leak issue, had earlier maintained that the government must hold discussions either at Jantar Mantar, the protest site, or at a neutral location.

The government agreed to hold the meeting at the Constitution Club of India, marking a shift from the earlier disagreement over the venue.

“A discussion has been called. We are very happy that the government has agreed to our request that the meeting should be held at a neutral venue, and the Constitution Club of India has been chosen,” CJP spokesperson Saurav Das told reporters.

“I hope the government comes with an open mind and listens to the people,” he added.

The previous round of talks between the government and CJP representatives took place on July 20, when CJP national spokespersons Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka met Bharatiya Janata Party president JP Nadda at his residence.

Following the meeting, the two leaders alleged that they were kept under “virtual detention” during the interaction and said they had subsequently insisted that all future discussions with the government should take place only at a neutral venue.

In a social media post on Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated that “nothing is more important than the welfare and future of our youth” and promised the establishment of fast-track courts to punish those involved in paper leaks.

However, his statement did not mention Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, whose resignation has remained one of the primary demands of the protesters.

“This country has witnessed several announcements of fast-track courts, but this is not the solution to the systemic issues in the education system,” CJP spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka said in a post on X.

In another effort to address concerns raised by student protesters, the Centre on Thursday night transferred Higher Education Secretary Vineet Joshi to the Ministry of Panchayati Raj and appointed new officials to key positions in both the school education and higher education departments.

The Ministry of Education has been facing intense scrutiny following allegations related to the NEET paper leak and irregularities in the Central Board of Secondary Education’s evaluation process for board examinations.

After announcing the creation of fast-track courts, Prime Minister Modi, in a late-night video message on the same day, said that the government would take strict action against paper leaks and would discuss and finalise legislation on the matter during Friday’s Union Cabinet meeting.

The Prime Minister also announced that a bill containing provisions for strong action against paper leaks would be introduced in Parliament the following week.

The protest movement has received support from opposition parties, which have also been demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The ongoing confrontation between the government and student groups continues to intensify as the CJP maintains that accountability at the highest level remains essential for resolving the crisis.