Govt offers fresh talks; CJP sets Jantar Mantar or a neutral venue as condition

The Centre on Thursday renewed its offer to hold talks with the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) in an attempt to break the deadlock over the ongoing student agitation. However, the organisation rejected the invitation, reiterating that any discussions must take place at a neutral venue rather than the residence or office of a Union minister. Union Minister J.P. Nadda extended the invitation to the CJP leadership, while Union Minister Jitendra Singh said the government had made multiple efforts since Wednesday to initiate dialogue.

In a video message released after meeting Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Singh said the government had reached out to CJP leaders on four occasions, requesting them to attend discussions either at Nadda's residence or his office. "The only way forward is through dialogue. We are ready to discuss the issues. You can come either to J.P. Nadda's residence or his office," Singh said. The CJP, however, maintained that it would not participate in talks at the home or office of any government representative.

Addressing reporters at Jantar Mantar, where the organisation has been staging a sit-in since last month over alleged irregularities in the NEET examination and demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, CJP chief spokesperson Saurav Das said police officials had conveyed Nadda's invitation. "We declined the invitation because we will not go to anyone's residence or office. The people's court is here. If ministers want to speak to us, they should come before the people," Das said. He added that the organisation remained open to negotiations but only at a mutually acceptable neutral venue. According to Das, if security concerns prevented ministers from visiting the protest site, the CJP would be willing to consider another location near Jantar Mantar.

This is the second time the government has invited the CJP for discussions. A similar offer made on Wednesday was also rejected after the organisation insisted that any meeting should take place on neutral ground. Government sources said the invitation was intended to open a channel of communication and resolve the impasse through dialogue, but the CJP leadership chose not to attend under the proposed arrangements. The standoff continues as the protest enters another phase, with both sides expressing willingness to talk while remaining divided over the venue for negotiations.

Union Minister Jitendra Singh, after meeting Home Minister Amit Shah, says the Centre called the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) four times for talks, but no response yet. “The government’s doors are open always for talks with students. We have tried talking to them four times, to no response. The protesters can come to either J P Nadda’s residence or office for talks,” said Jitendra Singh, Atomic Energy minister.

CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke on Thursday said he would be away from Jantar Mantar protest site “for few hours” as he was down with fever and severe body pain. Taking to X, the CJP leader said, “I’ve been down with a fever and severe body pain for the last few days, but I’ve been pushing through with painkillers. My apologies if you don’t see me at Jantar Mantar today. I need to get a few hours of rest and recover. Will be back at the protest site by evening.”