The government on Monday reached out to leaders of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), urging them to end their sit-in at Jantar Mantar and help restore normalcy in the national capital.
Union Health Minister JP Nadda made the first official comments on the month-long CJP protests, which escalated with the “Chalo Sansad” call on Monday.
Nadda’s comments came after he met Home Minister Amit Shah and Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan at the Parliament House complex.
Pradhan’s resignation over the NEET-UG paper leak is one of the CJP’s principal demands. “This morning, for the first time, a proposal came from the protesters to hold talks with the government, and our discussions have been ongoing since 11:50 am. The meeting took place in a cordial atmosphere. An initial verbal discussion was held in detail with their delegation, and they submitted a written petition to me around 4 pm,” Nadda said about the meeting with CJP leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka.
Nadda said he had requested all protesters to end their sit-in and assist the administration in restoring normalcy. The government, for its part, appeared to be in a wait-and-watch mode as the protests continued to unfold through the day. Shah made no official remarks after emerging from a nearly three-hour meeting with Pradhan and left the Parliament complex soon afterwards. The Home Minister is, however, said to be keeping a close watch on the situation in the national capital.
Meanwhile, CJP representatives who met Nadda claimed the agitation had scored a victory, noting that the government had finally engaged with them. “Our demands have been conveyed, including the immediate resignation or sacking of Pradhan. The minister assured us he would discuss this at the appropriate level. However, no commitments have been made so far. The peaceful protesters will not rest until the demand is met,” Das and Ranka said after the meeting.
Later in the evening, the Delhi Police dismantled the stage at Jantar Mantar where CJP leaders, including the now-hospitalised Sonam Wangchuk, had been protesting. Several protesters remained at the Jantar Mantar site as night fell, with the CJP and many other participants vowing to continue their agitation until Pradhan resigned.
Earlier in the day, Dipke ended his fast after AAP leader Manish Sisodia handed him a food packet. It was not clear whether he had resumed his fast. However, Sonam Wangchuk issued a handwritten note late at night, saying he would continue his hunger strike, now in its 23rd day, until youth protesters were allowed to meet MPs in Parliament or MPs were allowed to meet the fasting activist at Safdarjung Hospital, where he is under medical care.
It is learnt that earlier in the day, CJP leaders were engaged in talks with the government through DCP (New Delhi) Sachin Sharma. Soon afterwards, Das and Ranka met Nadda.