Centre Agrees to Talks with Student Protest Group at Neutral Venue; Demands Include Minister's Resignation

The Union government has agreed to hold talks with a student protest group at the Constitution Club of India at 12:30 pm on Friday, after the Centre accepted a key demand for a neutral venue. The meeting aims to address the ongoing agitation over the NEET examination controversy.

The development follows activist Sonam Wangchuk ending his 26-day hunger strike at Medanta Hospital on Thursday, in the presence of Union ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh. Wangchuk's action paved the way for formal discussions between the government and the protesters.

Confirming the meeting, a spokesperson for the protest group, Saurav Das, said the organisation welcomed the government's decision to shift the talks to a neutral location. "Our protest will continue; we are hoping for an open-minded dialogue," Das told reporters.

Another spokesperson, Vaishnavi Gaur, stated that the delegation would present the same demands it has raised since the protests began. "We will be putting forward our demands, which we have been consistent with from the first day," she said.

According to Gaur, the key demands include the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, compensation for families affected by the NEET controversy, and the withdrawal of all FIRs registered against what she described as "innocent protesters."

Following Wangchuk's decision to end his fast, the group's founder, Abhijeet Dipke, expressed gratitude, saying, "We are relieved and grateful that Sonam sir has ended his hunger strike after 26 days. Thank you for your extraordinary courage and sacrifice."

Despite Wangchuk ending his fast, the protest group has maintained that its peaceful demonstration at Delhi's Jantar Mantar will continue until its demands, including the minister's resignation, are addressed.