CJP warns of fresh nationwide agitation over unfulfilled promises to students

New Delhi: The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) may revive its nationwide agitation over what it says is the Centre’s failure to formally communicate steps taken to fulfil assurances made to students and peaceful protesters.

The party’s national working committee will meet on Monday to review the situation and decide its next course of action. It said all options to secure fulfilment of the commitments would be considered, including the possibility of launching another peaceful nationwide agitation.

The CJP had withdrawn its nationwide agitation on July 25 after the government gave assurances on issues raised during its campaign, including action on FIRs against students and protesters, protection from punitive action and compensation for families of NEET-UG candidates who died by suicide following the cancellation of the examination in May due to paper leaks.

The party said it had called off the agitation “in good faith” based on the government’s word, but warned that the decision should not be mistaken for weakness.

The development comes days after the Supreme Court, on August 18, sought a consolidated list of FIRs registered against students and protesters across the country.

According to the CJP, the top court asked the Centre three times to provide the list so that it could consider exercising its powers under Article 142 to quash the cases. The party said the Union government did not commit to providing the list despite the repeated requests.

Following the hearing, CJP co-convener Saurav Das and legal affairs lead Ratna Singh raised concerns that the government appeared to be “cheating” the younger generation, the party said.

The CJP said the government delegation that had held talks with the outfit had also not formally communicated the steps being taken to implement the written assurances, particularly those concerning FIRs and compensation.

CJP warns against delay in commitments

The party said its decision to withdraw the agitation was based on the commitments made by the government and warned against any attempt to “dilute, delay, reinterpret or dishonour” them.

Such a move would amount to “vishwasghaat” (betrayal) of the country’s youth, the CJP said.

The party has now asked students, young citizens, supporters and volunteers to remain prepared for the outcome of Monday’s national working committee meeting.

The CJP had called off its nationwide agitation on July 25, shortly after then-education minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned and the government assured that students and peaceful protesters would not face punitive action.

The campaign had also sought action in the NEET paper leak controversy and compensation for the families of the deceased victims.

With PTI inputs