The third round of talks between representatives of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and the Centre is set to take place today, with the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan emerging as the main sticking point. After the previous round of discussions, CJP spokespersons Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka said there were encouraging signs on two of the party’s three key demands, but no breakthrough had been reached on Pradhan’s removal. The issue has now turned into the central fault line in the ongoing standoff.
Soon after, sources in the government dismissed the possibility of the minister stepping down, saying resignation would be the easiest way out but not the answer. “People have given us the mandate, and we will deliver,” the sources stated, signalling that the Centre is unwilling to give in to pressure on this demand. The statement has added more tension to the already strained negotiations.
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Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi thanked people for their responses and positive suggestions to his video message in which he announced a strict law to punish those involved in paper leaks. The government’s move is being seen as an attempt to address the larger concerns raised by the protest.
