The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has said on Friday that protests will continue until Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigns or is sacked.

The CJP made the statement after talks, the second such attempt to bring the protest to a close, with the Centre represented by Health Minister JP Nadda and Minister of State in the PMO Jjitendra Singh at the Constitution Club. The two sides had met last on July 20 at Nadda’s house, the day protesters were lathicharged by Delhi Police personnel when they were marching to Parliament. Reports said the Centre asked for time till Saturday afternoon over the demand that Pradhan resign.

CJP’s Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das attended for the protesters. Ranka said they hoped the government removes Pradhan soon and said the government has agreed in-principle to announce compensation for the families of NEET aspirants who died by suicide and the withdrawal of FIRs, cases against the protesting students.

Nadda told media that the two-hour meeting discussed the three main demands as well as five reform suggestions from the students with regard to conducting NEET.  He said they will meet again with the CJP team tomorrow to inform them on the Cabinet’s decision on whether Pradhan should resign.  

CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke had said hours before the meeting with the government that only Pradhan’s resignation would do. Ladakh activist Sonam Wangchuk ended his 26-day hungerstrike at midnight last night in the presence of the two ministers after assurances that the main demands would be met. Prime Minister Narendra Modi in an X video post last night said the government will move a draft bill on fast-track courts pushing for tough penalties against people who leak papers. Further, the Centre shunted Higher Education Secretary Vineet Joshi and appointed a new official.

Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Thursday led Congress and INDIA bloc Members of Parliament to Gandhi Smriti in New Delhi, saying the visit was meant to express solidarity with students affected by the NEET paper leak controversy and those injured during recent protests.

The move came as the Opposition intensified its campaign over alleged irregularities in competitive examinations, with Congress continuing to demand accountability from the Centre.

Rahul Gandhi says Opposition stands with students

After attending a meeting at Rahul Gandhi’s residence, Congress and INDIA bloc leaders left for Gandhi Smriti on Tees January Marg. Security arrangements were tightened outside the residence, with barricades placed in the area before the leaders departed.

Visuals from the spot showed Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and several Opposition lawmakers boarding buses for the visit.

In a statement shared on social media, Rahul Gandhi said the Opposition leaders were heading to Gandhi Smriti to remember students who had allegedly lost their lives following the NEET paper leak controversy and to support those injured while participating in protests demanding justice and accountability.

He also said that students across the country were not alone and that the INDIA bloc stood with them and their demands.

Congress continues demand for Education Minister’s resignation

The visit comes amid the Congress party’s continued demand for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the handling of the alleged paper leak issue.

Two days earlier, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and several Opposition leaders were detained while attempting to protest outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence over the matter.

The Opposition has maintained that greater accountability and reforms are needed to restore confidence in the examination system.

The Monsoon Session of Parliament is set for another eventful day on Thursday as the Lok Sabha is scheduled to take up the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026, while the Opposition presses for an immediate discussion on the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak and education reforms.

Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal is slated to move the Bill for consideration and passage. The proposed legislation seeks to amend the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956.

Lok Sabha to discuss Supreme Court judges amendment Bill

Alongside the Bill, the Lok Sabha will also consider a statutory resolution moved by Opposition MPs Sougata Ray, N.K. Premachandran, and Adv. Dean Kuriakose seeking to disapprove the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Ordinance, which was promulgated by the President on May 16, 2026.

As per the revised List of Business, both the statutory resolution and the Amendment Bill will be discussed together.

Opposition seeks debate on NEET paper leak

Ahead of the day’s proceedings, Congress Rajya Sabha MP Randeep Surjewala submitted a notice under Rule 267 seeking suspension of the House’s scheduled business to discuss the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak, police action against protesting students and broader reforms in the country’s examination system.

In his notice, Surjewala said the issue warranted immediate discussion, citing the cancellation of NEET-UG 2026 following allegations of an organised paper leak network that affected over 22 lakh candidates. He also referred to repeated paper leaks in multiple recruitment examinations, alleging continuing systemic shortcomings despite legal safeguards.

Meanwhile, Congress MP K.C. Venugopal also sought a discussion in the Lok Sabha on the NEET paper leak and the reported crackdown on student protesters.

NDA MPs to stage protest

The political atmosphere is also expected to remain charged, with NDA MPs scheduled to hold a protest against the Congress at Parliament’s Makar Dwar before the proceedings begin.

The developments are likely to make the NEET controversy and judicial reforms two of the key issues dominating Parliament during the day’s session.