New Delhi: In a significant development at the Jantar Mantar protest site on Monday(July 20), Cockroach Janta Party leader Ashutosh Ranka declared that
the government had finally begun listening to the protesters' demands, claiming that the agitation had forced the administration to the negotiating table. "Govt is listening to us. We have made them crawl," Ranka told the gathered crowd, adding that the movement was "close to victory." He announced that the CJP was heading for talks with the administration, with the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan remaining the central demand. Follow LIVE -Jantar Mantar Protest Live Updates Urging protesters, CJP leader Ashutosh Ranka claimed the government has agreed to talks after 30 days of protest, saying the movement has forced the administration to the negotiating table.to maintain law and order as the talks got underway, Ranka said: "We are going for talks and we will get Pradhan's resignation. Please maintain law and order."
The announcement came after a tense morning at Jantar Mantar, where Delhi Police had warned that the protest site had gone beyond capacity and could lead to a law and order situation. Heavy security arrangements, including Vajra vans, RAF personnel and barricades around Parliament Street Police Station, had been put in place ahead of a proposed march to Parliament.
"The ball is in their court"
CJP Chief Spokesperson Saurav Das had earlier said the administration had come "very late" to the table but that the party had "opened its hearts" to dialogue. "The ball is in their court," he had said, even as he demanded a larger protest space beyond Jantar Mantar.The protest, now in its 30th day, was launched in connection with the alleged NEET paper leak and has been anchored by the hunger strike of activist Sonam Wangchuk, who was shifted to Safdarjung Hospital last week and is said to be stable but continuing his fast.
