Centre Invites Student Protesters for Talks on NEET Row

• Centre says it has sent four proposals for talks with student protesters.
• Jitendra Singh says government is ready for discussions at any time.
• Protesters reject meeting at ministers’ residence, seek talks at Jantar Mantar or a neutral venue.
• NEET agitation continues with demand for Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation.

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 23rd July: The Centre on Thursday reiterated its willingness to hold talks with student protesters over the alleged NEET paper leak, with Union Minister Jitendra Singh saying the government is prepared for discussions “at any time” and has already sent four formal proposals to the protesting groups since Wednesday.

Addressing the media, Singh said the government remains committed to resolving the issue through dialogue and appealed to students to participate in discussions.

“The government has sent four formal proposals for discussions with their representatives since yesterday afternoon. This is a standing invitation to all our youth friends. The government is ready for discussions on all issues at your convenience, at any time,” he said.

Singh said Union Health Minister JP Nadda would join him during the discussions and proposed that the meeting be held either at Nadda’s office or residence.

“We do not stand on prestige. Slowly, through discussions, we will progress towards a solution. This is part of the continuous steps being taken by the government for the welfare of students,” he added.

The government’s outreach came hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the establishment of fast-track courts to ensure speedy trials and stringent punishment in examination paper leak cases.

However, the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), which has been leading the protests, rejected the government’s proposed venue, insisting that discussions should take place either at Jantar Mantar or at a mutually agreed neutral location.

Addressing reporters at the protest site, CJP chief spokesperson Saurav Das said police had informed the group that JP Nadda wanted to hold discussions at his residence.

“We refused to go to anyone’s house or office. The people’s court is here. Ministers should come among the people. If they want to talk, the talks should be held at Jantar Mantar,” Das said.

He added that the organisation remained open to dialogue and would consider a neutral venue near the protest site if security concerns prevented a meeting at Jantar Mantar.

Das also said the protesters would seek assurances from the government that no fresh FIRs or punitive action would be taken against peaceful demonstrators participating in the movement.

According to the CJP, protests have spread beyond the national capital to several states, including Bihar, Goa, Maharashtra and Rajasthan, describing the agitation as an “organic” nationwide movement.

The student protests intensified after thousands attempted to march towards Parliament earlier this week, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the alleged paper leak. The Opposition has also sought the minister’s resignation and has linked it to discussions in Parliament.

On Wednesday, the CJP reiterated that the government should come to the protesters for talks and maintained that its demand for the Education Minister’s resignation remains unchanged.

Meanwhile, security remained heightened in the national capital. On Tuesday, 17 Delhi Metro stations were temporarily closed due to security arrangements during the protests before services resumed later in the day.