Rejects govt’s talks offer again
NEW DELHI, JUL 23 (PTI/AGENCIES): The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on Thursday gave a nationwide call for peaceful protests on July 24 and urged people to hold demonstrations in every district as it rejected the government’s offer for talks, insisting any dialogue should be held only at a neutral venue.
It also said Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s announcement on action against paper leaks did not address the issue of accountability or its main demand of Union Education Minister’s resignation over NEET paper leak.
On Friday’s protest call, CJP said gatherings would be held across the country under the slogan “Every district. One day. One demand”, where participants would read out the protesters’ demands and express solidarity with students, parents and others who were injured in the police action in Delhi on July 20.
The nationwide call came as the protest at Jantar Mantar entered a fresh phase amid heightened security in the national capital. Meanwhile, a delegation of CJP will meet with government ministers on Friday, sources said.
Mobile internet snapped again: The government has ordered telecom companies to shutdown internet services in parts of central Delhi, particularly in areas surrounding Jantar Mantar.
Education secretary shifted: Centre on Thursday announced that Higher Education Secretary Vineet Joshi has been swapped with Naresh Pal Gangwar, who was presently serving as the Secretary of Animal Husbandry & Dairying.
Wangchuk breaks fast
Sonam Wangchuk late Thursday night broke his fast after getting assurances from Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda and Union Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions Dr. Jitendra Singh. The government gave a written assurance that cases against students would be taken back if they were not violent. It also assured that they will consider compensation for suicide victims.
‘More strict actions to come against paper leaks’: PM
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday released a video message addressing students assuring “more strict actions against paper leaks to come in tomorrow’s (Friday) Cabinet!”
His message comes amid massive nationwide protests against alleged irregularities in the Neet UG examination. “I know that paper leak is not an ordinary issue. It is very painful for lakh of students and their families. Which is very several actions were taken against the incident. Accused for arrested.”
This is the second time in two days that the PM has addressed the issue amid ongoing student protests over paper leaks.