Cockroach Janta Party ends month-long protest after government accepts remaining demands
Agitation called off following Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation and Centre’s assurance of compensation and no action against protesters
NewsArc Bureau | New Delhi
The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on Saturday formally announced the withdrawal of its month-long agitation at Jantar Mantar after the Centre agreed to its two remaining demands, bringing to an end one of the most sustained student-led protest movements New Delhi has seen in recent years.
The development came hours after Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan submitted his resignation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, conceding the protesters’ central demand. The third round of talks between the Centre and CJP representatives at the Constitutional Club of India in New Delhi concluded on Saturday following Pradhan’s resignation. Wionews
WHAT THE GOVERNMENT AGREED TO
The government agreed to provide Rs 1 crore to the families of students who died by suicide and assured that no action would be taken against protesters involved in the July 20 demonstrations. Union Ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh led the third round of talks with CJP representatives before the demands were accepted. Outlook IndiaOutlook India
Following the talks, Nadda and Jitendra Singh held a joint press conference with CJP representatives Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das, where the government’s acceptance of the outfit’s two remaining demands was formally announced. Outlook India
CJP DECLARES WITHDRAWAL
Addressing the press conference, CJP spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka declared that the organisation was withdrawing its agitation in good faith and urged all protesters to return home with immediate effect. Wionews
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke, reacting to Pradhan’s resignation earlier in the day, said the movement’s persistence had paid off, invoking the party’s namesake to describe its refusal to back down once mobilised.
BACKGROUND: A MONTH OF AGITATION
The protests, which began in the wake of the NEET-UG paper leak controversy, saw students and youth groups camp at Jantar Mantar for weeks, demanding accountability from the education ministry, withdrawal of police cases against demonstrators, and reforms to the National Testing Agency. The agitation disrupted normal life in the capital, with reports of 18 Delhi Metro stations shut at the peak of the unrest, and drew solidarity demonstrations across several states as well as among the Indian diaspora abroad.
The protest movement had already notched one major concession earlier this week when activist Sonam Wangchuk ended a 26-day fast over the NEET row following assurances from the Centre. Saturday’s announcement of Pradhan’s resignation, followed swiftly by the acceptance of CJP’s compensation and amnesty demands, marked the culmination of the standoff.
Reacting to developments, the BJP cautioned that opportunistic political elements were attempting to infiltrate the student-led protest, urging demonstrators to remain wary.
With the agitation formally withdrawn, attention now turns to the Centre’s implementation of its commitments, including compensation disbursal and the promised non-action against protesters linked to the July 20 demonstrations.
