Cockroach Janta Party to review Centre’s assurances, may revive nationwide agitation

The Cockroach Janta Party will convene its national working committee on Monday to review the Centre’s assurances following withdrawal of its nationwide agitation, saying the government has yet to communicate steps on FIRs, punitive action against protesters and compensation

New Delhi: The Cockroach Janta Party will convene a meeting of its national working committee on Monday to review the status of the commitments made by the Centre after the withdrawal of its nationwide agitation on July 25, saying the government is yet to formally communicate the steps being taken to fulfil the assurances.

All steps to secure fulfilment of the commitments would be considered, including the possibility of launching another peaceful nationwide agitation, the CJP said.

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“The CJP called off its agitation in good faith because the government gave its word to the young people of this country,” it said, adding that it would not allow that “good faith” to be mistaken for “weakness”.

The CJP also asked students, young citizens, its supporters and volunteers to remain prepared for the outcome of its Monday meeting.

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

The CJP said the top court asked the Centre thrice to provide the list so that it could consider exercising its powers under Article 142 to quash the cases.

“Despite the court repeatedly asking for this list, the Union government did not commit to providing it,” the CJP said.

The outfit said that immediately after the court hearing, its co-convener Saurav Das and legal affairs lead Ratna Singh raised concern that the government appeared to be “cheating” the younger generation after the CJP called off its agitation on the basis of the commitments made during its talks with the Centre.

The assurances included withdrawal or quashing of all FIRs arising from the protests, a guarantee that no student or peaceful protester would face punitive action in future and compensation for the families of NEET-UG candidates who committed suicide after the test was cancelled in May due to paper leaks.

The CJP also said the government delegation that engaged in parleys with the outfit did not formally reach out to it to place on record the steps being taken to fulfil the written assurances, including on FIRs and compensation.

The CJP said its decision to withdraw the agitation was based on the government’s words and warned against any attempt to “dilute, delay, reinterpret or dishonour” the commitments, which would be seen as “vishwasghaat” (betrayal) with the country’s youth.

The national working committee meeting on Monday will assess the situation and decide the CJP’s next course of action.

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

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