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Abhijeet Dipke, founder of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and one of the prominent faces of the ongoing protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar, said he has
been diagnosed with typhoid but vowed to continue the agitation until Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigns. In a post on X, Dipke wrote on Saturday, "Have been diagnosed with typhoid, but the fight will go on until Dharmendra Pradhan resigns!"
His statement comes as the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) reiterated after the second round of talks with Union ministers J P Nadda and Jitendra Singh that Pradhan's resignation remains a "non-negotiable" demand. The outfit warned that if its demands are not met, the protests at Jantar Mantar will intensify and spread across the country. The CJP is also seeking Rs 1 crore compensation for NEET victims, no legal action against protesters, and structural reforms to the examination system. Another round of talks with the Centre is scheduled for Saturday.
CJP spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka on Saturday reiterated that the minister's resignation remains the outfit's primary demand. In a post on X, he wrote, "Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation is NON-NEGOTIABLE. If it's a no from the government, there's no point in further discussion."
The third round of talks between CJP representatives and Union ministers J P Nadda and Jitendra Singh is scheduled for Saturday afternoon. The Centre had sought more time after Friday's two-hour meeting at the Constitution Club to deliberate on the protesters' demands.
The CJP has placed three key demands before the government: the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan, a guarantee that no legal action will be taken against protesters, and ₹1 crore compensation for the families of students who allegedly died by suicide following the NEET paper leak.
According to CJP leaders, the government has agreed in principle to two demands — compensation and protection from legal action against protesters — but remains unwilling to concede Pradhan's resignation, which continues to be the biggest hurdle in the ongoing negotiations.
