Talks between the Indian government and leaders of the youth-led 'Cockroach' movement failed to make headway on Friday, as protesters gathered across the country to push for an overhaul of the education system. Senior ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh met with leaders of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) for two hours of talks on the group's demands, which include a call for the resignation of the education minister, Dharmendra Pradhan. Both sides said the talks would resume on Saturday.
Protests and Demands
CJP spokesman Ashutosh Ranka told reporters after the meeting in New Delhi that the group conveyed in very clear terms that nothing short of Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation or his removal from the Union Cabinet would be acceptable. The Jantar Mantar protest site in New Delhi has seen bouts of unrest and violence during the week that snowballed after police fired tear gas and baton-charged demonstrators as they tried to march to parliament. The movement spread beyond the capital, with large protests held in several other cities including Kolkata and Mumbai.
Government Response and Future Talks
Nadda, who also met with protesters in New Delhi on Monday, said the government had 'heard their points' and was expected to respond in follow-up talks. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has pledged legal reforms and swift punishment for those involved in the exam paper leaks. Modi said in a social media post on Thursday his cabinet would discuss measures to speed up court proceedings against those involved in examination leaks. After 'incorporating the suggestions of my cabinet colleagues', draft legislation would be given 'its final shape'. 'We will make every effort to have the bill introduced and passed by the House at the earliest,' Modi added.
