Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Jul 28: The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on Tuesday claimed it had received fresh assurances from the government that cases filed against protesters would be withdrawn and that no further legal action would be initiated against them, particularly in Bihar, Assam and Rajasthan.
In a series of late-night posts on social media, CJP spokesperson Saurav Das said the government had once again assured the outfit that all FIRs against protesters would be withdrawn and no future action would be taken against those who participated in the agitation.
Referring to Bihar, Assam and Rajasthan, Das said, "After Bihar and Assam notifications, we have just been guaranteed that no authority will proceed against protesters in Rajasthan."
Hours after raising concerns over reports of detentions and arrests in several states, Das shared a video around 2 am alongside CJP's legal point of contact Ratna Singh. He said the two had met Delhi Police representatives, whom he described as interlocutors in the negotiations.
"We told them that we're afraid that the government won't keep its promise," Das said in the video, referring to the assurance that protesters would not face legal action. He added that the meeting lasted nearly three hours.
According to Das, Delhi Police handed over a copy of the Bihar government's notification withdrawing cases registered against protesters before July 26 and assured the CJP that similar notifications from the Union government and other BJP/NDA-ruled states were expected on Tuesday.
"They've reiterated their promise of releasing guarantee notifications by the Union government and other BJP/NDA states by tomorrow. Hopefully, the agreed-upon language shall be used," he said.
The CJP also appealed to protesters allegedly facing police harassment to remain patient, assuring them of legal assistance.
"We are with you. We will ensure that lawyers are there to help you," Das said in another video message.
He announced that the party would soon launch a website to connect protesters with lawyers across districts. The platform will allow advocates willing to provide legal assistance to register their names, locations and the type of support they can offer.
Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal announced ?1 crore in legal aid for the initiative and appealed to lawyers across the country to contribute to the fund.
Addressing a press conference alongside Das on Monday night, Sibal said the proposed website would serve as a nationwide legal support network for protesters.
Earlier, CJP spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka had warned that the organisation would resume protests if cases against demonstrators were not withdrawn.
"We demand that all the FIRs against the protesters be immediately withdrawn, students be released and no future FIRs be filed in line with our agreement by Delhi Police, central investigative agencies or police in BJP-allied states. Failing this, we will be forced to sit on protest again," Ranka wrote on X.
The CJP had called off its 37-day protest on Saturday after the resignation of former Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan and following the government's acceptance of key demands, including compensation for families of students who died by suicide and withdrawal of cases against protesters.
The agitation was centred on seeking accountability for the alleged NEET-UG paper leak and other examination irregularities and had drawn widespread support from students and youth across the country.