Govt's"new spin" may surprise CJP and Opposition ::: "Dharmendra Pradhan stepping down would be the easiest thing to do ... he cannot run away from responsibility"

Dharmendra Pradhan won't resign, run away from responsibility: Govt sources

The NDA government has ruled out the possibility of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigning over the NEET-UG paper leak row.

It is being maintained that stepping down would be the easiest thing to do and would amount to running away from responsibility.

Four facial recognition system (FRS) units have been installed around the protest site at Jantar Mantar to identify wanted criminals, absconders and historysheeters, police sources said on Friday.

The surveillance system is not for ordinary protesters but is meant to identify those with criminal antecedents who may try to "infiltrate the protest" and disturb law and order, they said.

The FRS units have been positioned at key entry and exit points around the protest venue and are directly linked to the Delhi Police database.

The system will be monitored in real time by the officers, enabling them to instantly verify the identity of any wanted criminal, bad character or a historysheeter, the sources said.

"The objective is to ensure that people with criminal backgrounds do not exploit the protest to create law and order issues. 

The system is connected with the Delhi Police database and can identify wanted criminals, absconders, historysheeters and Bad Characters (BCs) whose details already exist in police records," said the police source.

The development is a huge blow to Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), who are staging a protest at Jantar Mantar, demanding Pradhan's resignation over the NEET paper leak row and other examination-related issues.

The government, sources added, is focused on fixing systemic issues within the National Testing Agency (NTA) instead of taking symbolic steps. A comprehensive list of shortcomings in the examination body has been prepared, and corrective measures are expected to be rolled out soon.  

The government's assertion came on a day when the CJP, which has been spearheading protests over the NEET paper leak and examination irregularities, reiterated that Pradhan's resignation remained a non-negotiable demand.  

The government would carry our crackdown on paper leak networks, and multiple "gangs" involved in exam paper leaks have already been busted. 

Further action against those involved is in the pipeline.  

After a two-hour long and third rounds of talks with the CJP; Health Minister J P Nadda (also Leader of the Rajya Sabha) said the government had heard the CJP's demands and would respond after considering them. 

He said both sides would meet again on Saturday. 

During a two-hour meeting with Union Ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh at Vithalbhai Patel House, Constitution Club on Friday, CJP representatives told the government they would not back down from their demand for Pradhan's resignation. 

The outfit also sought a public apology from the Centre, the Rapid Action Force and the Delhi Police Commissioner for the alleged police brutality against protesters during Monday's 'Sansad Chalo' march.

CJP spokesperson Saurav Das said the organisation also demanded Rs 1 crore compensation for the families of students who died by suicide following the cancellation of the May 3 NEET examination and withdrawal of FIRs against protesters.

It wanted acceptance of its five-point charter on examination reforms.

In a letter submitted to the government, the CJP said it had consulted supporters and protesters across the country before concluding that its demands -- including Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation, compensation for NEET victims' families and immunity from legal action for protesters -- were non-negotiable. 

It warned that the agitation would intensify and spread nationwide if the demands were not accepted.

ends