*Social activist Sonam Wangchuk interacts with Union Health Minister JP Nadda and Union Minister of State Jitendra Singh at Medanta Hospital after Wangchuk ended his 26-day indefinite hunger strike at Medanta Hospital, in Gurugram. Wangchuk's wife Gitanjali Angmo, right, is also seen.

| Photo Credit:

A standoff has emerged between the Centre and protesters over the demand for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, with talks on Friday failing to bridge the divide despite the government succeeding a day earlier in persuading activist Sonam Wangchuk to end his 26-day fast. Sources said there is no decision on Pradhan’s resignation and he continues to have the backing of the party and the government.Government interlocutors, Union Ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh, held discussions with Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) leaders, including spokespersons Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, at the Constitution Club in an attempt to end the month-long dharna at Jantar Mantar. However, negotiations made no headway on one of the protesters' three key demands."We conveyed in very clear terms that nothing short of Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation or his removal from the Union Cabinet would be acceptable," Ranka told reporters after the meeting.CJP leaders described the demand for Pradhan's resignation as "non-negotiable" and warned that the agitation would intensify if the government refused to act.From the government's side, Union Health Minister Nadda said the Centre had "heard their points" and would respond in subsequent rounds of talks. Government sources, however, ruled out the possibility of Pradhan stepping down, saying that "resignation is the easiest decision to take."Notably, the government's public messaging, including that of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has avoided addressing the demand for ministerial accountability. In his outreach to agitating students and unemployed youth on Thursday, Modi announced the creation of fast-track courts for the swift trial of those involved in examination paper leaks and reiterated his government's commitment to protecting the future of young people. However, he made no reference to calls for Pradhan's resignation.The omission continued even after Wangchuk agreed to end his fast late Thursday following a meeting at Medanta Hospital in Gurugram with Nadda and Singh. In a post on X, the Prime Minister wished Wangchuk a speedy recovery and urged him to regain his health but did not mention the demand for Pradhan's removal.Wangchuk, announcing the end of his fast on X, said the decision followed "a long negotiation on various conditions and in view of possible violence in the country.""Just now, in the presence of Union Ministers JP Nadda and Dr. Jitendra Singh and senior leaders of the Apex Body of Leh Ladakh, I finally broke my fast after 26 days. Earlier, 65 Members of Parliament from different political parties had visited or signed letters urging me to break my fast. This was done after a long negotiation on various conditions and in view of possible violence in the country," he posted.Reading out the government's assurances at the hospital in the presence of Wangchuk's wife, Gitanjali Angmo, and others, Nadda said the Centre was positively inclined not to register cases against those protesting peacefully at Jantar Mantar or those who took part in the July 20 march to Parliament.He also reiterated the government's assurance that Parliament would discuss paper leaks and examination reforms, and said the Centre was positively considering compensation for the families of students who died by suicide following the recent NEET paper leak controversy.Even during these assurances, there was no public reference to the demand for Pradhan's resignation.Meanwhile, the Centre is airlifting 10 additional CRPF companies from Chhattisgarh to strengthen security arrangements in Delhi as the student-led protest at Jantar Mantar enters its second month, with demonstrators continuing to press for sweeping education reforms as well as the removal of the Education Minister.Published on July 24, 2026