New Delhi: A delegation representing the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) is slated to hold discussions with Union ministers at 12:30 pm on Friday, according to reports.

CJP spokesperson Saurav Das confirmed that the Constitution Club of India has been selected as the neutral location for the negotiations.

The meeting precedes a nationwide protest called by the CJP for today, continuing demands for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan in the wake of the NEET-UG 2026 examination paper leak controversy.

Ahead of the talks, Union Minister of State Jitendra Singh emphasised that the administration does not stand on prestige, affirming that both he and Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda will participate in the dialogue.

"This is a standing invitation to all our youth friends that the government is ready for discussions on all issues at your convenience, at any time. Discussions can take place either at JP Nadda's office or residence. We do not stand on prestige. Union Health Minister JP Nadda and I will be present for discussions. Slowly, by way of discussion, we will progress towards a solution. This is a part of the series of continuous steps taken by the govt for the welfare of the students. Humbly, I appeal to you all to come and have discussions," Singh told ANI.

The CJP noted that authorities consented to their request for an independent venue, keeping their core demands firmly on the agenda.

The development follows activist Sonam Wangchuk concluding his 26-day hunger strike at Medanta Hospital in the presence of Nadda, Singh, and senior figures from the Apex Body of Leh Ladakh.

Initial direct talks between CJP representatives and the administration occurred earlier in the week, coming a month after the movement initiated its ongoing sit-in protest at Jantar Mantar. CJP spokespersons Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka previously conferred with Nadda on Monday amidst a tense standoff between demonstrators and police forces during a march toward Parliament.

The CJP has formally submitted a memorandum outlining three central demands: the resignation of Minister Pradhan, the release of activist Sonam Wangchuk, and ₹1 crore in financial compensation for the families of deceased NEET candidates.

Concurrently, parliamentary opposition parties have maintained demands for Pradhan's departure and comprehensive floor debates regarding the exam leak during the Monsoon Session, sparking continuous disruptions inside and outside the legislature.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently pledged rigorous measures against perpetrators, announcing via a self-recorded video message on X that the Union Cabinet will review a draft legislation establishing fast-track courts and severe penalties for offenders.

"I have issued directions to departments to set up Fast-Track Courts," Modi stated in the video, acknowledging the severe distress caused to candidates and their guardians over the preceding two and a half months.

"Friends, I know that paper leaks are not an ordinary matter. For lakhs of students and their parents, it is extremely painful. And that is why, in the last two and a half months since the paper leak incidents, several major steps have been taken. The culprits have been caught; they are currently in jail," he said.

The Prime Minister added that safeguarding students from losing an academic year remained a primary priority, noting that authorities mobilized resources to conduct re-examinations for nearly 2.2 million aspirants, with results published on July 19.

Amid these developments, an official notification issued late Thursday night announced a significant bureaucratic realignment by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet, appointing IAS officer Naresh Pal Gangwar as Secretary of the Department of Higher Education within the Ministry of Education.

ANI