This comes as the Centre and the Opposition remain deadlocked over the NEET paper leak case, with the CJP protesters somewhere in between.

This comes as the Centre and the Opposition remain deadlocked over the NEET paper leak case, with the CJP protesters somewhere in between.

This comes as the Centre and the Opposition remain deadlocked over the NEET paper leak case, with the CJP protesters somewhere in between.

As the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest for accountability in the education sector intensifies, so has the rhetoric around both sides of the NEET paper leak case.

On one hand, the BJP-led government can be seen trying to placate the protesters, with PM Modi announcing fast-track courts to punish those accused in the paper leak scam, adding that "those who try to harm the future of our youth will not be spared".

On the other hand, the Centre has also denied talking about resignations in the Parliament's monsoon session, which has led to it being adjourned for a fourth time.

In fact, the Centre has also demanded that there should be "no politics ... no preconditions" on the Parliament talks, while the Opposition has declared that there could be no talks without Pradhan's resignation.

Amid the furore over the NEET paper leak, which has intensified due to the CJP protests at Jantar Mantar and the Delhi Police lathi charging and using tear gas on the protesters, a number of leaders have tried to either placate or downplay anger.

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, for example, reframed the whole issue, stating that the government had been proactive enough to make arrests when the issue took place and the re-test was conducted on time, after which students allegedly claimed that they had studied hard and had done better than before.

"'Yes, first it sort of hurt me when the paper leakages happened but later I took advantage of that and prepared even more and my performance has improved and I've done well,'" she said, quoting the students, and blaming the Opposition of not wanting solutions.

Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Pralhad Joshi, reiterated this point, alleging that there had been 19 paper leaks back when Congress leader Ashok Gehlot was the CM of Rajasthan.

"Even Priyanka Vadra had acknowledged that, despite their best efforts, paper leaks could not be prevented," claiming that the BJP government had brought about major educational reforms since 2014.

Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis took a harsher stance, first questioning whether celebrities coming to the CJP protests were all genuine, or if some were coming "to make reels or gain popularity".

He then issued a strong challenge to the Opposition, asking it to stop backing down and face the Centre in the Parliament.

Amid the back and forth between the Centre and the Opposition, with the CJP protesters in the middle, it remains to be seen how the protesters and the government will break the deadlock, with Union Minister Jitendra Singh declaring that the CJP protesters had declined four offers over the past 24 hours to meet and discuss the NEET issue, because they were "adamant and arrogant".

The CJP protesters, however, have declared a nationwide protest on Friday. Go figure.

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