CJP Rejects Minister Office Talks as Parliamentary Deadlock Enters Fourth Day

Deadlock between the Union government and protesters continued for the fourth consecutive day on Thursday, July 23, 2026, as the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) rejected offers to meet ministers at official residences or ministerial offices.

Government Offer vs CJP Counter

Union Minister Jitendra Singh publicly appealed to protesters, stating that the government’s "doors are always open for talks with the students." Singh claimed the government had invited CJP leadership for discussions "at least four times" over a 24-hour period, offering meetings at either Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda's residence or his office.

CJP spokesperson Saurav Das responded by clarifying that CJP had not received direct formal communication regarding the specific venue and time. Das reiterated CJP's policy against attending meetings at ministerial offices or private residences:

"We will meet there. I have not received any message from their side yet. They should contact us directly and discuss where to meet, when to meet and how long the discussion continues." — Saurav Das, CJP Spokesperson

Das proposed neutral venues such as the protest site at Jantar Mantar or the Constitution Club of India.

Parliamentary Standoff and Friday Call

Inside Parliament, proceedings were disrupted for the fourth straight day. Opposition parties, barring DMK and AAP, made Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation a pre-condition for entering parliamentary discussions on exam irregularities.

CJP leadership affirmed there would be no compromise on their core demand for Pradhan's resignation and officially issued a call for a nationwide protest on Friday, July 24. Meanwhile, student demonstrations and solidarity rallies were reported across Mumbai, Bihar, Haryana, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu.

What We Can Verify

• Four Invalidation/Talk Appeals: Union Minister Jitendra Singh stated publicly that the government invited CJP for talks four times within 24 hours to meet at Minister Nadda's residence or office. — The Indian Express
• CJP Neutral Venue Demand: CJP spokesperson Saurav Das rejected visits to minister residences/offices and offered to meet at Jantar Mantar or Constitution Club. — The Indian Express
• Demand for Resignation: Both CJP and major Opposition parties maintained Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation as a non-negotiable demand. — The Indian Express
• Nationwide Protests: Student demonstrations over NEET paper leaks and Monday's Delhi police action took place across Mumbai, Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Haryana, and Kerala. — The Indian Express

What Remains Unverified

• Direct Outreach Verification: Whether written invitations were formally transmitted directly to CJP organizers prior to public ministerial statements remains unconfirmed [unverified].