A delegation of India’s Cockroach Janta Party is meeting government ministers on Friday for the first formal talks since protests began at Jantar Mantar on June 6, even as the movement simultaneously called for nationwide peaceful demonstrations across India on the same day.
Union Minister Jitendra Singh confirmed the government was ready to meet CJP representatives at the office of BJP President JP Nadda, saying wherever you want we can discuss. The talks come after days of escalating pressure including police baton charges on July 20, 180 injuries, 16 Delhi metro station closures and mobile internet restrictions in central Delhi.
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke said the protests would not stop until Prime Minister Modi sacks Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, maintaining the movement’s core demand despite engaging in dialogue. Wangchuk, still hospitalised after being forcibly admitted on July 18, wrote to Minister Nadda offering to end his hunger strike if the government assured no protester would face retaliatory legal action.
The protests, which began over medical school entrance exam paper leaks affecting two million students, have spread to Mumbai and other cities this week.
