The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has warned of a fresh nationwide protest if its demands are not met, citing the Centre’s failure to provide a written assurance on withdrawing FIRs against protesters. The CJP has been seeking accountability for alleged police brutality during the July 20 Parliament protest march, including fixing responsibility not just of the police but also of the home minister. According to CJP chief spokesperson Saurav Das, government representatives informed the outfit during talks on Tuesday that the matter had become ‘sub judice’ due to the Supreme Court’s interim order in a batch of PILs related to its agitation.
Das stated that the Centre was using this order to avoid providing the promised written assurance. He emphasized that the government had assured the outfit on Saturday that protesters would not be prosecuted, but now they are trying to go back on their guarantees. Das warned that if the government does not honour its word, the CJP will be forced to call for a big protest, not just in Delhi but nationwide.
He also expressed hope that Parliament would discuss the police brutality that took place on July 20, including the use of pellet guns that left people blinded. Das described the proposed fast-track courts for examination-related offences as ‘a band-aid measure’, emphasizing that the system needs to holistically change and accountability needs to be fixed. CJP national spokesperson Ashutosh Rana echoed this sentiment, stating that it was ‘a matter of shame’ that the government had failed to act on the assurances it made earlier.
Rana demanded that the government honour the agreement and provide a written commitment, warning that the CJP will be compelled to launch an agitation again if this does not happen.
