The deadlock might finally be breaking, but the CJP is holding the line. Following weeks of intense protests and a massive police crackdown, the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and the Centre are officially sitting down for talks today (July 24, 2026) at 12:30 PM.
The Neutral Venue: The CJP explicitly rejected meeting at government offices, prompting the Centre to agree to a neutral venue. The talks are being held at the Constitution Club of India in New Delhi.
Wangchuk Ends Fast: After a 26-day hunger strike, activist Sonam Wangchuk broke his fast around midnight on Thursday. This decision came after Union Ministers J.P. Nadda and Jitendra Singh visited him at Medanta Hospital in Gurugram to deliver official government assurances.
Major Bureaucratic Shakeup: In a significant reshuffle triggered by the protests, the Centre has removed Higher Education Secretary Vineet Joshi, replacing him with Naresh Pal Gangwar.
Demands Remain Non-Negotiable: Despite the scheduled talks and Wangchuk ending his fast, CJP leaders Abhijeet Dipke and Saurav Das have stated the Jantar Mantar sit-in will continue until Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigns. The CJP has also launched a nationwide “Every district. One day. One demand” protest campaign today.
Political Backlash: Sonia Gandhi issued a statement asserting that the student protests are a “natural consequence” of the Modi government’s policies. She accused the Centre of resorting to repressive state power over constructive dialogue.
City Lockdown: Anticipating further unrest, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) closed 17 metro stations starting at 7:30 AM today.
