Union Minister Jitendra Singh has repeatedly invited the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) for talks concerning the ongoing student agitation, offering to discuss all related issues at Union Health Minister JP Nadda's residence or office at the students' convenience. While the government highlights its commitment to student welfare, including the establishment of fast-track courts for paper leak cases, the CJP maintains its demands for accountability and the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, deeming the Prime Minister's announcement insufficient. Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, on an indefinite hunger strike, has offered to end his fast if peaceful protesters are assured no punitive action.

Union Minister Jitendra Singh has repeatedly invited the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) for talks concerning the ongoing student agitation, offering to discuss all related issues at Union Health Minister JP Nadda's residence or office at the students' convenience. While the government highlights its commitment to student welfare, including the establishment of fast-track courts for paper leak cases, the CJP maintains its demands for accountability and the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, deeming the Prime Minister's announcement insufficient. Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, on an indefinite hunger strike, has offered to end his fast if peaceful protesters are assured no punitive action.

Union Minister Jitendra Singh has repeatedly invited the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) for talks concerning the ongoing student agitation, offering to discuss all related issues at Union Health Minister JP Nadda's residence or office at the students' convenience. While the government highlights its commitment to student welfare, including the establishment of fast-track courts for paper leak cases, the CJP maintains its demands for accountability and the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, deeming the Prime Minister's announcement insufficient. Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, on an indefinite hunger strike, has offered to end his fast if peaceful protesters are assured no punitive action.

Days after the central government's talks with the Cockroach Janta Party's (CJP) spokespersons failed to bear any results, Union minister Jitendra Singh on Thursday invited the protesters for talks at JP Nadda's office. As many as four offers of talks were extended to the students in a day's time, the minister said. He underlined the need for the talks to take place as the government was willing to "go to any extent to safeguard the welfare of the students."

"I wish to share that in the last 24 hours as many as four offers were made to the student representatives for a dialogue. It is my humble appeal to the students on agitation that the government is ready for talks whenever you want, at whichever hour of the day and for as much length of time that you wish to," Jitendra Singh told the press.

The minister said the government was willing to hold the talks either at Nadda's residence or at his office. The government was open to holding talks on any matter concerning the student movement. “We are ready to discuss the issue on which the agitation has happened, and all the other related issues as well. The talks can be held with an open mind at the residence of Union health minister JP Nadda and of course I will be accompanying him. The talks could be held at Nadda's residence or at the office, or whichever of the two you wish to,” he was quoted as saying by Delhi-based media.

The Union minister added that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's decision to establish fast-track courts for paper leak cases proved that the Centre was with the students. “As you would also appreciate, this morning itself, Prime Minister Narendra Modi candidly spelt out that the interest of the students is the foremost for this government... Once again, I very humbly, on behalf of the government, invite you to come forward,” he said.

Modi, in a post on X on Thursday morning, announced the setting up of fast-track courts to ensure swift and stringent punishment for those involved in paper leaks, and said, "nothing is more important than the welfare and future of our youth".

However, the CJP later responded by saying that the Prime Minister's announcement on action against paper leaks did not address the issue of accountability, and reiterated its demand for Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation.

The CJP-led agitation began on June 20 and is demanding accountability over alleged irregularities in competitive examinations, reforms in the education system and the resignation of Pradhan.

Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, who joined the agitation on June 28 and has been on an indefinite hunger strike since then, has offered to end his fast if the Centre assures that no punitive action or FIRs are initiated against peaceful protesters who participated in the movement. PTI

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