NEW DELHI: The Central government has firmly ruled out accepting the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan amid mounting pressure from the opposition and the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) over alleged irregularities and paper leaks in the NEET examination.
Top official sources clarified that the government does not view the minister’s resignation as a solution to the problem. Emphasizing that abandoning responsibility is not an option, sources stated that the focus remains on fixing systemic flaws within the examination framework. The entire Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) stands firmly behind the minister.
Officials added that the public has given the government a mandate to act, and it will not step back from its duties. The government is currently mapping out technical and administrative shortcomings within the National Testing Agency (NTA) to implement major structural reforms. Investigative agencies have already busted several paper-leak syndicates, and strict punitive action will follow.
Meanwhile, political friction continues to build. During a two-hour marathon meeting at Vitthalbhai Patel House on Friday, July 24, 2026, with Union Ministers J.P. Nadda and Dr. Jitendra Singh, CJP representatives maintained an uncompromising stance.
The organization asserted that the Education Minister’s resignation is a non-negotiable condition. Additionally, CJP demanded a public apology from the Central government, the Rapid Action Force (RAF), and the Delhi Police Commissioner for the police action against students during the July 20 ‘Parliament March’.
Briefing the media after the meeting, CJP spokesperson Sourav Das outlined the group’s three key demands:
- Financial Assistance: ₹1 crore compensation for the families of students who lost their lives following the cancellation of the May 3 NEET examination.
- Withdrawal of Cases: Immediate revocation of all police complaints (FIRs) registered against protesting students.
- Reform Implementation: Adoption of their 5-point demand charter on examination reforms.
Das warned that if these conditions are not met, the ongoing agitation at Jantar Mantar will be intensified across all states.
Against the backdrop of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk ending his 26-day fast, Union Minister J.P. Nadda stated that the government has heard the protesters’ concerns attentively, with a third round of talks scheduled for Saturday.
Addressing the nation late at night, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that the government will introduce a landmark anti-paper leak bill in Parliament next week, the draft of which has already received Union Cabinet approval. However, with CJP firm on the minister’s exit and the government pushing for structural overhaul, the standoff in the national capital remains unresolved.
