📅July 25, 2026 | By Pulse India News Desk
‘No Accountability, Minister Must Resign’: CJP Escalates Paper Leak Protest
The Cockroach Janta Party has said it will continue its protest at Jantar Mantar until Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigns or is removed, even as negotiations with the government show movement on other student-related demands.
CJP spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka has said that the resignation or removal of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan remains the group’s central demand. According to Ranka, talks with the government have produced progress on protester protection and financial assistance for affected families, but the agitation will continue until there is political accountability for repeated examination paper leaks.
CJP Says Resignation Is Non-Negotiable
The Cockroach Janta Party, a satirical political group involved in the ongoing paper leak agitation, has hardened its position following discussions with the government.
Speaking from the protest site at Jantar Mantar, CJP spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka said the movement would not end unless the Union Education Minister resigned or was removed from office.
Ranka argued that the controversy had grown beyond one organisation or one protest venue and now reflected wider public anger over examination security and administrative accountability.
“This is not just about the CJP or the protesters here at Jantar Mantar anymore. Protests are going on all over the country, and the government needs to pay heed to the general sentiment.”
‘No Middle Way’ On Education Minister’s Position
Ranka said the organisation believes the minister has failed to address the scale and frequency of examination paper leaks. He claimed there was no longer room for a compromise on the question of ministerial responsibility.
According to the spokesperson, reforms and new legal mechanisms may be useful, but they cannot substitute for accountability at the highest level of the ministry.
“We have made it categorically clear that nothing less than resignation or sacking would do. There is no middle way out here.”
Two Student-Welfare Demands Accepted In Principle
Despite the confrontational public position, Ranka said recent discussions with government representatives had produced some movement.
Three core issues were reportedly discussed during the talks, and two were accepted in principle: compensation for the affected families and the withdrawal of cases filed against protesters. The CJP now expects a written agreement that can be reviewed and mutually accepted.
The organisation wants existing cases against demonstrators withdrawn and a guarantee that protesters will not face similar police cases in the future.
The CJP has sought substantial financial assistance for the families of students who died by suicide, proposing compensation of ₹1 crore.
The group continues to demand the resignation or removal of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
Protest leaders want assurances recorded in a formal agreement rather than remaining limited to verbal or in-principle acceptance.
CJP Seeks Withdrawal Of FIRs Against Protesters
Ranka said around 11 first information reports had been filed in connection with the protests and demanded that they be withdrawn.
The organisation also wants an assurance that students and activists participating in future demonstrations will not be targeted merely for joining the agitation.
“We want a sovereign guarantee that no such FIRs targeting the protesters will be filed in the future.”
Fast-Track Courts Welcomed, But Called Insufficient
The Centre has announced legal reforms and approved fast-track courts for paper leak cases. The CJP has welcomed measures aimed at speeding up prosecution, but says they address the consequences rather than the cause of the problem.
Ranka argued that punishing offenders after a leak does not prevent the damage already caused to students, examination systems and public confidence.
“You are talking about treating the symptoms and not the disease. What difference does it make if we apply ointment after getting hurt? The entire fight is about no injury in the first place.”
Protesters Blame Structural Failures
The CJP has framed the paper leak controversy as a deeper administrative crisis rather than a series of isolated criminal incidents.
Ranka alleged that a lack of accountability throughout the examination and administrative system had allowed repeated failures to continue.
He said broader reforms would require stronger oversight, competent leadership and preventive mechanisms capable of stopping leaks before question papers reach criminal networks.
Sonam Wangchuk’s Hunger Strike Has Ended
The wider protest gained national attention after Ladakh activist Sonam Wangchuk joined the agitation with an indefinite hunger strike on June 28.
Wangchuk ended the hunger strike on Thursday night after 26 days, following negotiations and government assurances.
Ranka said the CJP supported Wangchuk’s decision, noting that his health had deteriorated during the final days of the fast.
“We are really happy that his hunger strike has ended, and our fight, this protest, continues. There is absolutely no contradiction in these two things.”
Paper Leak Protest Timeline
The protest begins, with students and activists demanding accountability and stronger action over examination paper leaks.
Sonam Wangchuk begins an indefinite hunger strike, bringing greater national attention to the agitation.
Wangchuk ends his 26-day hunger strike after negotiations and assurances from the government.
CJP spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka says the Jantar Mantar protest will continue until the education minister resigns or is removed.
What The Government Has Announced
- Legal reforms aimed at strengthening action against examination paper leaks.
- Approval for fast-track courts to hear and decide paper leak cases.
- Discussions with protest representatives on student welfare and legal protection.
- In-principle acceptance of two demands, according to the CJP spokesperson.
- An expected written agreement setting out the final commitments.
Why The Protest May Continue
The negotiations have reduced some areas of disagreement, but the principal political demand remains unresolved.
The CJP has separated Wangchuk’s hunger strike from the broader movement, making clear that the end of his fast does not amount to the end of the Jantar Mantar protest.
Unless there is a significant change in the government’s position or a compromise acceptable to the protesters, the agitation is likely to continue even after a written agreement on student protection and compensation.
What Happens Next?
The next major development will be the proposed written agreement between the government and protest representatives. Its wording will determine whether the accepted demands result in concrete action.
The larger political confrontation, however, is centred on the demand for the education minister’s resignation. The government has announced reforms, but the CJP argues that administrative changes without personal accountability will not restore confidence.
• Whether the government formally agrees to withdraw FIRs
• The amount and eligibility rules for financial compensation
• Whether protest leaders accept the final written agreement
• The government’s response to the resignation demand
• Whether nationwide student protests expand or begin to ease
