On the fourth day of the Monsoon Session of Parliament, the Centre renewed its outreach to protesting students, inviting them for a second round of talks "at your convenience, any time," even as the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) rejected the offer to meet at Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda's residence or office. Instead, the CJP insisted that Union ministers come to Jantar Mantar or hold discussions at a neutral venue such as the Constitution Club. With neither side willing to compromise on the venue, the stalemate continues. Amid heightened tensions, Connaught Place has been directed to shut by 6:30 pm, while Parliament is set for another stormy day with the Lok Sabha taking up the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026, and the Opposition preparing to raise the NEET-UG paper leak and police action against student protesters.
The political temperature is also expected to remain high, with NDA MPs gathering at Makar Dwar of Parliament to protest against the Congress, two days after the Opposition staged a sit-in outside the Prime Minister's residence over the alleged NEET paper leak.
#WATCH | Delhi | On updated proposal for talks with Cockroach Janta Party, Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh says, "The govt has sent four formal proposals for discussions with their representatives since last afternoon...This is a standing invitation to all our youth friends that… pic.twitter.com/PAQ6PbeNIa
— ANI (@ANI) July 23, 2026
Meanwhile, Congress MP K.C. Venugopal has submitted an Adjournment Motion Notice in the Lok Sabha, seeking a discussion on the NEET-UG paper leak issue and the police lathi-charge on protesters during the July 20 demonstration at Jantar Mantar.
In a major outreach to the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and student protesters, Union Minister and Minister of State in the PMO Jitendra Singh reiterated that the government is ready to hold discussions "any time."
#WATCH | Delhi: Saurav Das, Chief Spokesperson, Cockroach Janta Party, says, "Union Minister Jitendra Singh said that we can hold talks anywhere; then we have already made our suggestion. Come to Jantar Mantar or to a neutral venue like the Constitution Club of India. We will… pic.twitter.com/US6JNf1al2
— ANI (@ANI) July 23, 2026
Underlining that the government has sent four formal proposals for talks since Wednesday, Singh said the Centre remains open to dialogue at the convenience of the protesters.
"The government has sent four formal proposals for discussions with their representatives since last afternoon. This is a standing invitation to all our youth friends that the government is ready for discussions on all issues at your convenience, at any time," he said.
Singh added that he would be joined by Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda during the discussions.
"Discussions can take place either at J.P. Nadda's office or residence. We do not stand on prestige. J.P. Nadda and I will be present for discussions. Slowly, through dialogue, we will progress towards a solution. This is part of the continuous steps taken by the government for the welfare of students. Humbly, I appeal to all of you to come and have discussions," he said.
However, the protesting groups have rejected the proposal, insisting that the government come to Jantar Mantar or agree to a neutral venue such as the Constitution Club, with no middle ground reached so far.
The renewed offer for talks comes days after tens of thousands of student protesters, led by the Cockroach Janta Party, attempted to march to Parliament demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the alleged NEET paper leak.
Meanwhile, in a symbolic show of support for the student movement, advocates at the Supreme Court read the Preamble to the Constitution in solidarity with the Jantar Mantar protesters and condemned the police action against demonstrators.
