Abhijeet Dipke, founder of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), announced on Saturday, 25 July that he has been diagnosed with typhoid, but insisted the protest movement demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan would not halt. The disclosure came via a post on social media platform X, where Dipke wrote: 'Have been diagnosed with typhoid, but the fight will go on until Dharmendra Pradhan resigns.'

Dipke's Health Update

In a video message, Dipke said his blood test reports had confirmed typhoid and that he was receiving IV drips every morning as part of his treatment. Despite the illness, he expressed gratitude to CJP supporters — whom he called 'cockroaches' in keeping with the party's identity — for sustaining peaceful demonstrations across the country. 'I firmly believe that if we continue our peaceful protest, Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation will surely happen,' he said.

CJP's Stand Ahead of Third Round of Talks

The statement came hours before a scheduled third round of talks with the Centre. On Friday, Union Ministers J.P. Nadda and Jitendra Singh had held a second round of discussions with a CJP delegation at the Constitution Club in New Delhi, where the government indicated it would revert on the party's demands.

CJP spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka said on Saturday morning that further talks were pointless unless the government was prepared to remove the Education Minister. 'In yesterday's meeting, we received a positive response regarding compensation and legal cases. We got an in-principle agreement, and we hope to receive the written agreement today as well. However, there has still been no concrete decision on our main demand — the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan,' Ranka told reporters.

Ranka added that media reports suggesting Pradhan would not resign had cast doubt on the value of continued dialogue. 'If Dharmendra Pradhan is not going to resign, then please tell us what the point of holding such meetings is?' he said.

Government's Steps on the Paper Leak Row

Amid the ongoing controversy over paper leaks in competitive examinations, the government has replaced the Education Secretary and sacked 47 officials of the National Testing Agency (NTA). The CJP, however, rejected these measures as insufficient. Ranka argued that 'ultimate accountability' rested with the Education Minister, holding him directly responsible for the paper leaks and for the deaths by suicide of students following the NEET paper leak. 'He must resign,' Ranka said.

While the CJP acknowledged the government's decision on educational reforms and amendments to The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, it maintained that Pradhan's resignation remained the non-negotiable central demand.

Cabinet Clears Stricter Anti-Leak Bill

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Parliament House complex on Friday, approved a Draft Bill proposing significantly stricter penalties for examination paper leaks. In cases of organised paper leaks, the Bill proposes a jail term of up to 10 years and a maximum fine of ₹10 crore — a substantial increase over the existing law, which prescribes three to five years imprisonment for individuals and five to ten years with a minimum fine of ₹1 crore for organised offences. Prime Minister Modi had publicly committed to fast-track courts and enhanced penalties to protect students' futures before the Cabinet gave its nod.

With the third round of talks imminent and the CJP holding firm on its central demand, the standoff between the protest movement and the Centre shows no sign of an early resolution.