CJP protest: JP Nadda meets delegation as Sonam Wangchuk refuses to end hunger strike

Union Health Minister JP Nadda on Monday met representatives of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), which has been leading protests over alleged irregularities in competitive examinations, even as education reform activist Sonam Wangchuk said he would continue his 23-day hunger strike despite the talks.

The meeting came amid the CJP's "Chalo Sansad" march in Delhi, where thousands of students, youth groups and supporters gathered at Jantar Mantar before marching towards Parliament. Security was tightened across central Delhi in view of the demonstration.

Following the meeting, CJP leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka submitted a written memorandum to Nadda, reiterating their key demands, including the resignation or removal of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

The party, however, said the protest would continue until its demands are accepted.

CJP submits memorandum, seeks action on education reforms

According to the memorandum submitted to Nadda, the CJP said it has been organising peaceful protests across the country since June 6, with its indefinite sit-in at Jantar Mantar beginning on June 20.

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The memorandum alleged that repeated examination controversies, including the NEET 2026 paper leak, the CBSE Class 12 portal issues and delays in the CUET examination, reflected systemic failures. It held the Education Ministry responsible for the recurring problems and demanded Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation or dismissal.

The delegation also sought the immediate release of Sonam Wangchuk without any restrictions on his movement, compensation of Rs 1 crore for the families of NEET aspirants who allegedly died by suicide following the paper leak, and an end to what it described as the use of force against peaceful protesters by Delhi Police.

After the meeting, Saurav Das said on X that he and Ashutosh Ranka had been at Nadda's residence since noon and had conveyed all the demands, including the removal of the Education Minister. He said Nadda assured them that the matter would be discussed "at the appropriate level", but no commitments had been made.

Nadda says talks held in cordial atmosphere

Sharing details of the meeting on X, Nadda said the protesters had approached the government for talks for the first time on Monday morning. He said discussions began around 11:50 am and continued for several hours in a cordial atmosphere.

According to Nadda, an initial verbal discussion was followed by the submission of a written memorandum around 4 pm. He also appealed to the protesters to end their sit-in and help restore normalcy.

Wangchuk refuses to end hunger strike

Hours after reports suggested he had ended his fast, Sonam Wangchuk clarified that he would continue his hunger strike, saying the treatment of peacefully protesting students had compelled him to carry on with the agitation.

In a signed note shared on social media, Wangchuk said, "I will continue my fast (day 23). Seeing the brutality with which peacefully protesting youth are being dealt with, I have decided to continue my fast until the youth leaders are allowed to meet the Parliamentarians at the Sansad Bhawan or I am allowed to meet them here at the hospital."

Earlier in the day, CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke ended his indefinite hunger strike after being persuaded by the father of a NEET aspirant who allegedly died by suicide and following Wangchuk's appeal. Dipke said that while his fast had ended, the movement for education reforms would continue until the protesters' demands are addressed.