Honour your promise: CJP sets deadline for govt to scrap cases against protesters
The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on Monday urged the Centre to honour its assurance that no punitive action would be taken against participants of its
The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on Monday urged the Centre to honour its assurance that no punitive action would be taken against participants of its nationwide protest, expressing concern over reports of student protesters being detained or arrested in several states. The party demanded the immediate release of all detainees, withdrawal of FIRs registered against them and warned that it would take "further necessary steps" if its demands were not met by Tuesday. Read Full Story In a statement issued by CJP leader Saurav Das, the party said it had received "multiple reports" of students and other protesters being "targeted, detained, or arrested" by various state agencies, particularly in Assam, West Bengal and Bihar. It said these reports were "a matter of grave concern" because the CJP had suspended its nationwide agitation only after the Government of India assured it that "no punitive action would be taken against any protestor, either now or in the future, in any BJP-ruled or NDA-ruled states." Seeking to reassure those facing action, the party said its legal team had been working since the first day of the protests to provide assistance.
"We wish to assure every protestor that our legal team is already coordinating with brilliant lawyers in the concerned states to secure the release of those detained and to extend all possible legal assistance," the statement said. The CJP also called upon the Centre, particularly BJP president and Union Health Minister JP Nadda and Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh, to intervene immediately. "We call upon the Government of India, particularly JP Nadda ji and Dr Jitendra Singh ji, to immediately honour the assurance given to us by ensuring the release of those detained and by directing that no coercive or retaliatory action is taken against any protestor anywhere in the country. The FIRs registered ought to be withdrawn too," the party said. Das further reminded the government of its commitment to provide a written guarantee on the issue by Tuesday.
According to the statement, the CJP had suspended its nationwide protest "in good faith" and solely on the basis of the government's assurance that it would stand by its word. Warning against any deviation from that commitment, the party said such a move would not only amount to "a breach of trust" with the CJP but also with "lakhs of young Indians who chose dialogue over protests." "The Government of India is reminded that it derives credibility not from just making a promise, but from the promises they honour.... We demand that all detainees/arrestees be released immediately, and in any case by tomorrow, and that all FIRs be withdrawn immediately, failing which we shall take further necessary steps," the party said. The CJP called off its nationwide protest after Dharmendra Pradhan stepped down as the Union Education Minister over the irregularities in the conduct of the NEET examination.
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