The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has suspended its protests “in good faith” after reaching an understanding with the government, with both sides announcing at a joint press conference on Saturday afternoon that all legal measures, including lawsuits against student demonstrators, would be dropped.

Cabinet members also said they would work on the students’ demand for Tk1 crore in compensation for the families of those who took their lives in anguish over the medical entry question paper leak — the tragedy that sparked the protests.

Speaking at the press conference at the Constitution Club of India in New Delhi, CJP spokesperson Saurav Das said the government had agreed to consider the movement’s remaining demands following the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan as education minister.

Saurav Das said the government would formally announce the withdrawal of legal action in writing on Tuesday. He also said another round of talks would be held with the government in four weeks.

Health Minister JP Nadda said at the briefing that the central government had agreed not to pursue legal action against any of the protesters. He also said the Centre would soon determine the compensation amount for the families of the children who died by suicide following the question paper leaks.

Shortly before the press conference, Dharmendra Pradhan submitted his resignation letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In a letter shared on X, Pradhan said he was saddened by the sequence of events over the past 10 days and that he had taken the decision in the interest of the country’s unity.

Reacting to Pradhan’s resignation, the Cockroach Janta Party wrote on social media: “Cockroaches won, Democracy won”.

Candle light march planned Sunday

Earlier, the Cockroach Janta Party had called for a candle light march on Sunday in solidarity with the victims of police brutality. It remained unclear after Saturday’s talks and press conference whether the march would still go ahead.

While the third round of talks was underway, stone-pelting was reported in at least three districts of Bihar on Sunday as protesters clashed with police over the NEET paper leak. JJD chief and Lalu Yadav’s elder son, Tej Pratap Yadav, was detained while participating in a protest.

Late on Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi thanked everyone for their responses and positive suggestions to his earlier video message, in which he announced the government’s decision to introduce a strict law to punish those involved in paper leaks. In that message, Modi said a new bill containing tougher provisions against paper leaks would be introduced during the ongoing session of Parliament next week.

The development follows the Union Cabinet’s approval of a draft bill proposing stricter punishments for paper leaks, including up to 10 years’ imprisonment and fines of up to 10 crore rupees. Approved at a Cabinet meeting chaired by the prime minister at the Parliament House complex, the bill seeks to amend the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, and proposes a minimum punishment of five years’ imprisonment and/or a fine for those involved in paper leaks.

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