New Delhi: The Centre and the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) will hold a crucial third round of talks on Saturday as efforts continue to end the agitation over the NEET paper leak controversy. With fresh protests expected, security has been tightened across the national capital. Several Delhi Metro stations have been closed, liquor shops have been ordered to shut early, and Delhi Police has cancelled routine leave for all personnel, directing the entire force to remain deployed to maintain law and order.
The Union Cabinet also cleared a draft law proposing up to 10 years’ imprisonment and fines of up to Rs 10 crore for organised paper leak rackets, while Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the setting up of fast-track courts to deal with such cases. Friday’s second round of talks lasted nearly two hours but ended without a breakthrough on the demand for Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation. After the meeting, CJP leader Ashutosh Ranka said the Centre had sought time until Saturday afternoon to convey its stand.
Union Minister JP Nadda confirmed that another round of discussions had been scheduled and said the government’s position would be communicated after internal consultations. Despite continuing negotiations, government sources ruled out the possibility of the Education Minister stepping down. They said a resignation would be the “easiest thing to do” and would amount to avoiding accountability.
The Centre showed greater flexibility during Friday’s talks by agreeing to hold discussions at the Constitution Club instead of a minister’s residence. It also accepted two demands raised by the CJP — no FIRs against peaceful participants in the July 20 ‘Chalo Sansad’ march and Rs 1 crore compensation for the families of students who allegedly died by suicide in connection with the examination controversy. In one of the biggest administrative actions since the controversy surfaced, the National Testing Agency on July 24 terminated the services of 47 officials.
The government is also preparing a comprehensive overhaul of the agency’s outsourcing system for examination-related work to strengthen oversight, improve accountability and plug systemic loopholes. Earlier on Friday, the Union Cabinet approved a draft Bill proposing significantly stricter punishment for paper leak offences.
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