Student protests in India calling for the resignation of the federal education minister continued on Friday even as a prominent activist ended his hunger strike on Thursday evening, taking some pressure off the Narendra Modi government.
The protests, spearheaded by India’s youth-led satirical Cockroach Janta Party movement, or CJP, got widespread backing across the country after police beat up students marching to Parliament on Monday.
The government held another round of talks on Friday with CJP representatives, who have refused to back down from their demand that federal Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resign over the leaks of the questions of a key national entrance examination.
The government has sought time till 2 pm on Saturday to respond to the demand for the minister’s resignation, CJP told the media after the talks.
Friday’s talks were held at the Constitution Club of India, not far from the protest site in Jantar Mantar and considered a “neutral” venue.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted a video message on his X handle at midnight, acknowledging that the leaks of the question paper for a national medical entrance exam, which triggered the wave of protests, are a serious issue.
“Friends, I know that paper leaks are not an ordinary matter… it is extremely painful… in the last two-and-a-half months since the paper leak incidents, several major steps have been taken,” Modi said.
“The culprits have been caught; they are currently in jail,” he added.
The prime minister said a draft of legislation to set up fast-track courts to deal with such cases and to ensure stringent punishments could be moved in Parliament as early as Monday.
Earlier, in the evening, activist Sonam Wangchuk ended his 26-day hunger strike after two ministers from Modi’s government met him and handed over a letter that his concerns will be addressed.
“The government is positive on not registering cases against those protesting peacefully at Jantar Mantar in Delhi and those who participated in the march to Parliament on July 20, 2026,” federal Health Minister J.P. Nadda said, reading out the letter.
The government reportedly assured Wangchuk that adequate compensation would be paid to the families of students who had taken their lives following the question paper leaks.
The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for admission to undergraduate courses in medical colleges was attended by over 2.2 million students in May. A retest was held last month following the leaks.
Modi’s government also removed the top bureaucrat in the higher education department, as well as other officials responsible for administering the test.
Meanwhile, India’s Supreme Court has asked the government to file a detailed report on the leaks, adding the reforms have to be “institutionalized,” and not temporary fixes.