NEET row: Govt makes 4 talk proposals to CJP in 24 hours, students silent
Synopsis
The Centre says it made four formal talk offers to CJP-led NEET protesters in a single day — and got silence in return. With Sonam Wangchuk’s hunger strike at 26 days and protests past the one-month mark, the government’s public outreach blitz looks as much like political positioning as a genuine attempt to break the deadlock.
Key Takeaways
The Centre made four formal proposals for dialogue with CJP -led student protesters within 24 hours on 23 July .
MoS Jitendra Singh said the government approached students with “utmost humility”; students remained “unresponsive and uncommunicative.” Union Minister J.P.
Nadda has been designated as the government’s interlocutor; talks can be held at his office or residence at any time.
PM Modi has announced fast-track courts to expedite prosecution of those behind the NEET paper leak .
Social activist Sonam Wangchuk’s hunger strike entered its 26th day on Thursday.
Protests at Jantar Mantar have continued for over a month with no resolution reached.
The Centre on Thursday, 23 July said it has made four formal proposals for dialogue with the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)-led student protesters in the past 24 hours, even as the students remained, in the government's words, “unresponsive and uncommunicative.” Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office, Jitendra Singh, made the disclosure as protests over the NEET paper leak at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi crossed the one-month mark.
What the Government Said
Jitendra Singh said the government had reached out with “utmost humility” and that its doors remained “open 24x7.” “We have approached them at least four times in the past 24 hours. We seek their participation in talks on all issues, including NEET,” he said.
Singh added that Union Minister J.P. Nadda has been designated as the government’s interlocutor and is prepared to hear out all student concerns. The students, he noted, are free to choose both the “hours and topics of discussion.” Talks could be held at Nadda’s office or residence at any time convenient to the protesters.
PM Modi’s Fast-Track Court Announcement
Singh reiterated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi remains “sensitive” to the concerns of India’s youth. The Prime Minister has already announced the setting up of fast-track courts to ensure speedy prosecution of those responsible for the paper leaks. Singh said these courts would ensure “the guilty face the law and get punished for their acts while justice is delivered without delay.”
State of Protests and Sonam Wangchuk’s Hunger Strike
The student demonstrations at Jantar Mantar, led under the CJP banner, have continued for over a month with no resolution in sight. Separately, social activist Sonam Wangchuk’s hunger strike entered its 26th day on Thursday, adding further pressure on the administration.
While earlier rounds of consultations between the government and student representatives did take place, both sides reportedly failed to find common ground, leaving the standoff unresolved.
What Happens Next
With the government’s interlocutor J.P. Nadda on standby and four outreach attempts already logged within a single day, the onus now appears to rest with the CJP-led students to respond. Analysts note that the public framing of “four proposals in 24 hours” signals the Centre is seeking to shift the optics of the stalemate ahead of what could be an extended political standoff over the NEET controversy.
Point of View
Not just a factual update. By framing the CJP students as ‘unresponsive,’ the Centre shifts the burden of the stalemate onto the protesters — a tactic that has precedent in previous agitation stand-offs. The fast-track court announcement sounds decisive, but its credibility hinges on timelines and judicial capacity, neither of which has been specified. Meanwhile, Sonam Wangchuk’s 26-day hunger strike remains a separate, potent pressure point that the government has yet to address directly in public. The real question is whether the ‘open door’ framing translates into substantive concessions, or whether it is designed to outlast the protest.
NationPress
23 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How many times has the government proposed talks with CJP-led students?
The government made four formal proposals for dialogue with the CJP-led student protesters within a single 24-hour period, according to MoS Jitendra Singh on 23 July. Despite these outreach attempts, the students reportedly did not respond.
Who is the government’s interlocutor for the NEET protest talks?
Union Minister J.P. Nadda has been designated as the government’s interlocutor. Students have been told they can choose the time and topics of discussion, and talks can be held at Nadda’s office or residence.
What action has the government announced on the NEET paper leak?
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced the setting up of fast-track courts to ensure speedy prosecution of those responsible for the NEET paper leak. MoS Jitendra Singh said these courts will ensure the guilty are punished without delay.
How long has Sonam Wangchuk been on hunger strike?
Social activist Sonam Wangchuk’s hunger strike entered its 26th day on Thursday, 23 July, adding to the pressure on the government amid the broader NEET protest movement.
How long have the NEET protests at Jantar Mantar been going on?
The CJP-led student protests over the NEET paper leak at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi, have been underway for over a month. Earlier consultations between the two sides took place but failed to produce a resolution.
