Free Wangchuk, sack Pradhan, Rs 1 crore for each NEET death: CJP's 3 demands

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), which has been spearheading protests over the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak and other examination-related issues, on Monday submitted a memorandum to Health Minister JP Nadda, seeking the release of activist Sonam Wangchuk, the removal of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Rs 1 crore compensation for families of NEET aspirants who allegedly died by suicide following the paper leak.The memorandum was submitted hours after thousands of protesters gathered near Parliament Street and attempted to march towards Parliament, demanding accountability for alleged examination irregularities and Pradhan's resignation. The protesters faced heavy police barricading, lathicharge and the use of tear gas as security personnel stopped the march.Later in the day, a CJP delegation met Nadda and handed over a memorandum outlining what it described as the movement's three principal demands. In a post on X, Nadda said the proposal for talks had come from the protesters and discussions had been underway since 11:50 am.FOLLOW CJP PROTEST LIVE BLOG UPDATES HERE In its memorandum, the CJP sought Wangchuk's unconditional release without restrictions on his movement, the resignation or dismissal of Dharmendra Pradhan, and Rs 1 crore compensation for the families of students who allegedly died by suicide following the NEET 2026 paper leak."The meeting took place in a cordial atmosphere. An initial verbal discussion was held in detail with their delegation, and they submitted a written petition to me around 4 pm," Nadda said, adding that he had urged the protesters to end their sit-in and help restore normalcy. The developments coincided with a meeting between Pradhan and Home Minister Amit Shah that lasted around three-and-a-half hours amid the ongoing protest.Participants in the CJP's Parliament march refused to disperse despite police action and continued raising slogans against Pradhan. The march, which saw participation from students and supporters from across Delhi, was halted near Parliament Street, where multiple layers of barricades had been erected. Police later cleared protesters from Jantar Mantar and nearby areas.The CJP began its agitation on June 6 over alleged irregularities in national examinations and later expanded its protests to multiple cities. The organisation alleged that repeated controversies, including the NEET 2026 paper leak, CBSE Class 12 portal glitches and delays in the CUET examination, reflected systemic failures for which the Education Ministry should be held accountable.The group also said that Wangchuk joined its indefinite sit-in at Jantar Mantar on June 20 and began a hunger strike on June 28 after the government failed to respond to its demands. Wangchuk was taken to Safdarjung Hospital on Sunday by police after his health worsened due to his hunger strike, which is now in its 23rd day.The CJP urged Delhi Police to stop what it described as the use of brute force against peaceful protesters, saying the movement represented the aspirations and concerns of students and young people across the country.Following the meeting, the CJP delegation described the interaction with Nadda as positive and expressed hope that the government would act on its demands."The minister listened to our concerns with empathy and the entire discussion was held in a very cordial atmosphere. The CJP delegation is confident that the government will give due consideration to our demands," the CJP said in a statement.The CJP delegation also appealed to its supporters to maintain peace and remain calm while awaiting the government's response to the memorandum.- EndsPublished On: Jul 20, 2026 16:59 IST