New Delhi (India) July 24: The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) decided to end the 36-day demonstration protesting the NEET examination issue on Saturday after the Union government met all their principal requirements, which included the removal of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and the dismissal of First Information Reports (FIRs) that were lodged against protestors. 

CJP Confirms Exam Reform Talks Next Month

According to a CJP official, both parties would meet again in four weeks for a follow-up meeting regarding large-scale exam reform measures. The CJP stated that their agitation will be revoked in good faith with a request that each agreement be fulfilled within the offered time-period.

Cockroach Janta Party’s Ashutosh Ranka said, “We held three rounds of discussions with the government delegation. Our protest at Jantar Mantar, which was going on for several days, had three main demands: Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation, all legal cases filed against protesters and organisers, those FIRs should be withdrawn, and no future cases should be filed against protesters or organisers. And our third demand was compensation of ₹1 crore for the families who lost their loved ones after the NEET paper was not held. Just a while ago, Dharmendra Pradhan resigned. This means that our first demand has been accepted.”

Compensation Package For Victims

Saurav Das stated that the Centre assured the protestors an adequate compensation package for victims of suicide that had committed suicide after they learned about the nullification of their May 3rd, NEET-UG examination, while adding that the Centre had also committed to nullifying the reports against protest.

CJP official Saurav Das said, “Our second demand was that all the FIRs filed against the protesters, not just in Delhi but in all BJP-ruled and BJP-allied States, should be withdrawn. This was also our second demand. The government has accepted that demand as well.”

“The withdrawal will be done shortly. The government has assured us that it will share copies of all the FIRs filed – as per our last information, 15 to 20 FIRs were filed in Delhi – and we will receive those copies within three to four days in any case. The government has also assured that the withdrawal will be done shortly. Understanding this, we have shared a draft with the government, which is a written guarantee. The government has said it will share this with us by Tuesday. We hope that by Tuesday we will receive the government’s guarantees regarding these FIRs and any future action,” he added.

Centre Agrees To Protesters' Key Demands

Union Minister JP Nadda had said that the government had conceded their demands such that no legal action would be taken against protesters and the appropriate authorities had agreed to give just compensation to the victim's family. 

“We had a long conversation today. They brought a written draft in which they made four points about the ongoing cases in agitation. Along with that, we discussed the other two demands: no retaliatory measures should be taken, compensation should be provided, and their five-point charter should be considered," Nadda said.

"We will provide them with copies of the FIRs, and no action will be taken. The second thing that has been said is that regarding compensation, the government has clearly stated that we also sympathize. We all have said that there will be compensation according to the rules and regulations. Whatever maximum will be possible will be given to them," he added.

Dharmendra Pradhan Resignation Amid Protests

Dharmendra Pradhan announced via X his own resignation from the ministry which was sent to the Prime Minister of India which the BJP stated was out of the concept of personal dignity to prevent those with an anti national agenda from capitalizing on the protesting mood of people.

Pradhan said, "For over four decades, I have dedicated myself to the cause of students, teachers, and educational reform. I have always believed that a robust, inclusive, and visionary education system forms the cornerstone of a strong nation."

"I deeply respect the aspirations, sentiments, and legitimate expectations of the country's youth. Realising the dreams of India's young generation has been a moral commitment in our political and social lives. I express my gratitude to the Honourable Prime Minister for the opportunity to serve the nation under his visionary leadership," he added.