The Cockroach Janta Party warned Tuesday that it may resume nationwide protests unless India’s central government and BJP- and NDA-led state governments withdraw first information reports, or FIRs, filed against demonstrators.
Saurav Das, the party’s chief spokesperson, said a Supreme Court interim order allowing authorities to continue investigating existing FIRs conflicts with government assurances made July 25. Das said the government had pledged to drop the cases and take no action against people for participating in the demonstrations.
According to Bar and Bench, the court said investigators could proceed with existing FIRs, but authorities could not take coercive action against protesters without criminal antecedents.
The court ordered states to release detainees under 18 with no criminal antecedents. It also ordered officials to preserve CCTV, drone, body-camera and communications records and directed police not to publish protesters’ personal data.
Das said the order does not require governments to keep the cases open. He said governments still have the power to drop the cases and should not use the ruling to back away from their commitment.
CJP asked the central government and affected states to put the July 25 agreement before the Supreme Court. Das said the deadline to honor the assurances was due to expire Tuesday.
If the guarantees are not honored, Das said, CJP would resume nationwide protests.
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke warned, “If the harassment of students at the hands of the police continues, the Cockroach Janta Party will respond with a massive peaceful protest soon.”
The Govt must stop targeting and witch-hunting students. — Abhijeet Dipke, CJP founder
The court acted on several petitions accusing police of using excessive force during the demonstrations. Reuters reported that the government defended the police response as lawful crowd control.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the court that the government did not object to an investigation and said about 250 officers were injured, Reuters reported.
Das also accused government lawyers of failing to oppose continued FIR investigations. His statement did not include a government response to that allegation.
As Virginia Times reported July 25, CJP ended its nationwide protest campaign after Dharmendra Pradhan resigned as education minister and party representatives met Union ministers J.P. Nadda and Jitendra Singh.
Nadda said authorities would drop FIRs already registered by Delhi Police or BJP-led states and would not open new cases, according to The New Indian Express. Das said the government would provide a written assurance on the agreed demands by Tuesday.
The campaign focused on alleged NEET-UG paper leaks and demands for examination reforms. The July 25 talks also covered compensation for families of students who died by suicide after the May 3 NEET-UG examination was canceled.
A global media for the latest news, entertainment, music fashion, and more.
