The Centre is set to hold another round of talks with representatives of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)-led student protest on Wednesday, with government sources saying they are “hopeful of a breakthrough”
after a late-night meeting with activist Sonam Wangchuk.
Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh is expected to meet CJP representatives shortly. The meeting comes just hours after he and former BJP president and Union Health Minister JP Nadda met Wangchuk at Medanta Hospital, where the activist is admitted following his hunger strike.
Government sources told News18 that the Centre remains committed to finding a solution through dialogue. “We are hopeful of a breakthrough. Our doors for conversation are wide open,” sources said.
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According to sources, one of the key issues discussed during the midnight meeting was Wangchuk’s demand that the ongoing student agitation be taken up for discussion in Parliament. The government is understood to have conveyed that it is agreeable to a parliamentary discussion, a move that could help break the impasse.
The fresh outreach marks a significant shift after days of confrontation between protesters and the administration.
The late-night meeting followed Wangchuk’s hospitalisation after the recent protests in Delhi. JP Nadda and Dr Jitendra Singh met him at Medanta Hospital to discuss the protesters’ demands and explore a way forward.
The government had earlier reiterated that it was open to dialogue even as protests escalated in the national capital. The latest engagement is part of a series of outreach efforts by the Centre. On Monday, JP Nadda met a delegation of CJP representatives after the protesters indicated their willingness to engage with the government. The Centre had then reiterated that its “doors of dialogue” remained open and expressed readiness to address the students’ concerns through talks.
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Tuesday witnessed high political drama as opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, joined the protesters, marched towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence and were detained by Delhi Police before being released. Parliament’s Monsoon Session has also seen repeated disruptions, with the Opposition demanding a debate on the issue.
With fresh talks now underway and the Centre signalling flexibility on key demands, Wednesday’s meeting is being closely watched for what government sources hope could be the first real breakthrough in ending the standoff.
