CJP Protest: Thousands of students have been protesting at Jantar Mantar for over a month, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan due to exam irregularities and the NEET paper leak. In response, the Centre has intensified security by airlifting additional Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) companies and other Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) to the National Capital.
According to a security review meeting held on Thursday, all Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) scheduled to be deployed in the national capital ahead of Independence Day have been directed to report earlier than planned.
Around 150 CAPF companies are expected to be deployed across Delhi in the coming days. Each company comprises approximately 100 personnel. Officials said nearly 100 CAPF companies are already assisting the Delhi Police in maintaining law and order.
Earlier this week, the Centre airlifted 20 CRPF companies from West Bengal to the national capital to oversee protests being organised under the banner of the Cockroach Janta Party.
The latest reinforcement includes 10 additional CRPF companies from Chhattisgarh, along with three Rapid Action Force (RAF) units and personnel from other CAPFs, including the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), Border Security Force (BSF), and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP).
The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has also curtailed leave for personnel deployed with its Delhi Metro security unit, with officials saying only emergency leave is being sanctioned to ensure maximum manpower at metro stations across Delhi-NCR.
The CISF has deployed around 13,000 personnel to provide counter-terrorist security across the Delhi Metro network's 250 stations.
Meanwhile, authorities have closed 15 to 17 Delhi Metro stations in and around the Jantar Mantar area over the past four days, citing security concerns linked to the protests.
CJP Meets JP Nadda
Friday's meeting marked the third official round of talks between the government and the CJP. During discussions with Union ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh, the CJP reiterated its demand for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and sought a public apology to students who were "brutally thrashed" during the July 20 protest march.
The Cockroach Janta Party said it would continue its protest at Jantar Mantar, maintaining that its demand for Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation was "non-negotiable".
Earlier in the day, the party also sought Rs 1 crore in compensation for the families of those who allegedly died by suicide following the cancellation of the NEET examination on May 3, CJP spokesperson Saurav Das said.
The two-hour meeting at Vithalbhai Patel House was aimed at finding an amicable solution to the protests over the NEET paper leak and alleged irregularities in the examination system.
Nadda said the ministers had heard the party's demands and conveyed that the government would respond later. "We will again meet on Saturday," he said.