‘Come to Us If You Want Talks’: Student Protesters Issues Stiff Ultimatum to Centre Amid National Education Standoff

The student-led Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) issued a firm declaration to the Union Government, stating that any dialogue regarding the ongoing national examination paper leak controversy must happen on the students’ terms and at the protest grounds. Spearking from the heart of the mass demonstrations at New Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, CJP student leaders rebuffed informal outreach from government intermediaries, emphasizing that official talks will only take place if representatives from the Ministry of Education visit the site directly. The high-stakes standoff follows days of escalating unrest, parliamentary disruptions, and widespread protests triggered by irregularities in the NEET-UG competitive examinations. The student collective reiterated its non-negotiable core demands, which include the immediate resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, a complete overhaul of the national testing apparatus, and concrete legal safeguards to prevent future leaks. Asserting that previous government assurances failed to inspire trust, CJP representatives declared that student delegates would no longer attend closed-door meetings in ministry offices. As thousands of demonstrators continue to occupy Jantar Mantar with strong public and digital support, the ball remains firmly in the Centre’s court to decide whether to engage directly with the youth movement or risk prolonging the national crisis.