Leaders of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on Friday reiterated that the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan remains their primary and non-negotiable demand during a second round of discussions with Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda. According to CJP representatives, the government requested time until Saturday afternoon to respond to the demand. The talks come amid continuing student protests at Jantar Mantar over the alleged NEET-UG 2026 paper leak and demands for wider reforms in the country’s examination system.

The demand for Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation has been at the centre of the CJP-led agitation for several weeks. Protest leaders have argued that accountability is necessary following the alleged examination irregularities and have warned that the movement will intensify if the minister does not step down. The protests have attracted support from students, activists and various organisations, with demonstrations continuing despite repeated appeals for restraint.

Friday’s meeting marked another attempt at dialogue between the government and protest leaders after recent tensions surrounding the agitation. While the CJP claimed that the government had agreed to two of its demands, it maintained that the issue of the Education Minister’s resignation remains unresolved. The organisation said it would wait for the government’s response before deciding its next course of action, while making it clear that the protests would continue until its key demands are addressed.