CJP protest: Sonam Wangchuk opens a window for talks as Government steps up efforts to resolve crisis

As the government stepped up efforts to defuse the situation arising out of student protests that have paralysed the heart of the Capital, a window opened Wednesday after activist Sonam Wangchuk said he would end his fast and ask the students to “halt the movement for now and enter into a dialogue with the government” if it fulfils its assurances to him and does not press for legal action against the protesters.

Wangchuk released a letter addressed to Union Ministers J P Nadda and Jitendra Singh who met him Tuesday night at the Medanta Hospital in Gurgaon. Without insisting on the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, he said the ministers had assured him that the government would consider providing “adequate compensation for the families of the students who had committed suicide following the examination paper leak” and “a meaningful discussion in Parliament to ensure accountability including consideration of the resignation” of Pradhan.

Shortly after the release of the letter, the Cockroach Janta Party said it would continue its protest until the government accepted its demands. While the CJP reiterated its demand for Pradhan’s resignation, its other conditions were similar to those put by Wangchuk. The CJP sought “Rs 1 crore compensation for families of children who died by suicide”; “no persecution of peaceful protesters”; and prosecution of all police officers involved in “committing atrocities”