The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on Saturday announced the withdrawal of its 36-day-long agitation over alleged irregularities in the NEET (UG) examination after the Centre accepted all key demands raised by protesting students. The announcement came hours after Dharmendra Pradhan resigned as Union Education Minister, taking moral responsibility amid mounting public pressure over the controversy.
Addressing a joint press conference at the Constitution Club of India in New Delhi alongside Union Ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh, CJP chief spokesperson Saurav Das appealed to protesters gathered at Jantar Mantar and across the country to disperse peacefully.
"The government has accepted all the demands placed before it. We request students and supporters to end the protests peacefully and return home," Das said.
Among the major assurances provided by the Centre is the withdrawal of First Information Reports (FIRs) registered against students during the nationwide protests in Delhi and BJP-ruled states. According to Das, the government has also agreed to share copies of all FIRs filed in connection with the demonstrations.
He added that the CJP had submitted a draft seeking written guarantees on the commitments made during the negotiations.
"We have shared our draft with the government. They have assured us that a written guarantee will be provided by Tuesday. We expect clarity regarding the withdrawal of FIRs and future legal action," Das said.
While welcoming the breakthrough, he criticised incidents of violence reported during the agitation, alleging that anti-social elements had infiltrated the protests and attempted to derail the largely peaceful movement.
CJP national spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka said the government had also accepted the party's demand for financial assistance to families of NEET aspirants who allegedly died by suicide following the examination controversy.
According to Ranka, the Centre has agreed to provide an honorary compensation of Rs 1 crore to the affected families, subject to applicable government rules and legal provisions.
"The government has accepted all our demands after 36 days of sustained protests. These were not radical demands—they were basic demands for justice and accountability," he said.
Ranka also announced that another round of discussions between the CJP and the Centre would be held in approximately four weeks to deliberate on a broader charter of reforms aimed at improving transparency and integrity in public examinations.
Representing the government during the negotiations, Union Minister and BJP President JP Nadda said the Centre had sympathetically considered the demands presented by the CJP and agreed to implement them.
He said the government would examine the reform proposals submitted by the organisation and take appropriate policy measures to strengthen the examination system and prevent future irregularities.
Union Minister Jitendra Singh also participated in the discussions, which ultimately led to the conclusion of the prolonged agitation.
The CJP, led by activist Abhijeet Dipke, had launched the protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar demanding the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged lapses in the conduct of the NEET (UG) examination. The agitation gained national attention and culminated in the "Chalo Sansad" march on July 20, during which clashes broke out between protesters and police.
Although reports initially suggested that Pradhan would not step down, sustained protests and increasing political pressure eventually led to his resignation on Saturday.
In his resignation statement, Pradhan said the developments of the past several days had deeply saddened him and emphasised that the issue was "not a matter of personal prestige."
Following the announcement, scenes of celebration erupted at the protest site, with supporters waving the national flag, chanting patriotic slogans including "Vande Mataram," and describing the government's decision as a victory for students and democratic protest.
The end of the 36-day movement marks a significant development in one of the country's most high-profile education-related protests, while attention now shifts to the Centre's promised reforms and the implementation of the assurances made to students and their families.
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