'If ministers want to talk, they must come to the people': CJP rejects JP Nadda's invitation
The political and public confrontation over the NEET paper leak continued to escalate on Wednesday, with both Parliament and the protest site at Delhi's Jantar Mantar witnessing fresh developments. While the Centre reiterated that it was ready to discuss the issue, the Opposition insisted the debate should be held through an adjournment motion, and the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) refused to meet government representatives at a minister's residence.
CJP spokesperson Saurav Das said Delhi Police informed the party that Union Minister and Leader of the House in the Rajya Sabha, JP Nadda, wanted to meet its representatives at his residence.
However, the invitation was declined.
According to Das, the protest site at Jantar Mantar itself has become a "janata darbar", and if ministers genuinely wish to engage with protesters, they should come to the people instead of calling them to private residences or government offices.
He added that the CJP is willing to hold discussions at a neutral venue near Jantar Mantar if the government has security concerns, but only if there is a sincere intention to address the protesters' demands rather than organise symbolic meetings.
Government reiterates willingness for discussion
The Centre maintained that it has consistently expressed its readiness to debate the NEET paper leak issue in Parliament.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said the government had been offering to hold discussions for the past three days and remained prepared for a meaningful debate on matters concerning the future of students, provided parliamentary proceedings continued normally.
JP Nadda also criticised the Opposition for disrupting Parliament, stating that the government had no hesitation in discussing the NEET paper leak and related issues. He accused the Opposition alliance of undermining parliamentary decorum and democratic functioning despite the government's willingness to hold discussions.
Opposition demands adjournment motion
The Opposition maintained that it was not opposed to discussing the NEET paper leak but insisted the debate should take place through an adjournment motion.
Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said the issue deserved a detailed discussion and questioned why Parliament could devote several hours to other subjects but not to an examination controversy affecting lakhs of students.
Congress leader KC Venugopal also reiterated the party's demand for the resignation of the Union Education Minister over the handling of the paper leak issue.
The CJP said thousands of protesters continued to gather at Jantar Mantar on Wednesday.
Saurav Das shared visuals showing large crowds at the protest site, while party spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka claimed the movement would continue to expand if the government failed to respond positively to its demands.
According to the CJP, its priority remains meaningful negotiations rather than meetings that do not lead to concrete decisions.
Security stepped up in Delhi
Amid the continuing protests and political deadlock, the Ministry of Home Affairs ordered the immediate deployment of 20 additional companies of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) to Delhi.
The additional personnel are being moved from West Bengal to strengthen security arrangements in the national capital as authorities prepare for the possibility of larger demonstrations.
Despite the government's public offer for discussions and the Opposition's willingness to debate the issue under specific parliamentary rules, no breakthrough had been achieved by Wednesday evening.
With protesters refusing to leave Jantar Mantar and insisting that ministers meet them publicly, and Parliament remaining divided over the format of discussion, the NEET paper leak controversy continues to fuel both political confrontation and public protests.