The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on Monday warned that it would revive and expand its agitation into a nationwide protest, accusing the BJP-led Centre of violating the agreement reached with the group by allowing police action against demonstrators to continue.
The warning came during a joint press conference with Rajya Sabha MP and senior advocate Kapil Sibal, signalling fresh tensions between the two-month-old organisation and the government just days after the CJP ended its 49-day protest following Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation on July 25.
The CJP alleged that police action against protesters had continued despite the July 25 understanding, under which the Centre had assured that all existing FIRs would be withdrawn and no new cases would be filed. The party accused the government of failing to honour its commitment by not withdrawing the cases promptly while continuing to arrest students and subject volunteers to what it described as surveillance and harassment.
"If we do not receive a written copy of the commitments agreed upon on July 25 by tomorrow, we will be forced to resume our protests," CJP spokesperson Saurav Das said.
The party also reiterated that the agreement included a promise of "maximum possible compensation" for the families of those who died by suicide in connection with the NEET paper leak, along with the Centre's assurance that it would consider the CJP's five-point examination reform proposal.
'GOVERNMENT BREACHING JULY 25 AGREEMENT'
Earlier in the day, CJP spokesperson Abhishek Ranka claimed on X that the government had failed to uphold its assurance that no punitive action would be taken against protesters.
"We are observing a complete breach of the agreement regarding no police action against the protestors. Hundreds of students have been arrested in Bihar and Bengal, and hundreds are being surveilled and harassed in Delhi and other states. Multiple reports are emerging in Delhi regarding the detention of volunteers supporting protestors with logistics," he wrote.
Ranka demanded the immediate withdrawal of all FIRs against protesters and insisted that Delhi Police, central investigative agencies and police forces in BJP-ruled or BJP-allied states refrain from registering any fresh cases.
The renewed confrontation comes only days after the CJP ended its protest following three rounds of discussions with Union ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh.
According to the CJP, the agreement covered the withdrawal of all FIRs filed by the Centre and NDA-ruled states against protesters and organisers, an assurance of no further action against participants, compensation for the families of NEET paper leak-linked suicide victims, and consideration of its five-point examination reform agenda.
'POLICE ACTION CONTINUES'
Speaking at the press conference, Saurav Das said the organisation had anticipated a crackdown once the protests were suspended.
"We have been consulting with Kapil Sibal before and after the protest was called off because we were apprehensive that once the momentum went down, the government would start targeting students individually. This has been the government's playbook," Das said.
CJP member Ratna Singh alleged that police action had intensified in multiple states. She claimed that seven to eight FIRs had been filed in Assam, while 11 people were arrested in Kolkata—10 of them Muslims—and charged with attempt to murder. She also alleged that 86 people had been arrested in Bihar.
"The students who are being targeted, we are with you," the CJP said.
LEGAL SUPPORT FOR PROTESTERS
The organisation also announced the launch of Saakshi, an online platform where protesters can upload videos and photographs that they claim document police action against them.
Kapil Sibal pledged legal assistance for those facing police action and said he would contribute Rs 1 crore to establish a legal support platform.
"We don't want any action against the people who were protesting. We have to make a website through which protesters can approach lawyers. I appeal to lawyers across the country to stand with these protesters," he said.
Sibal also alleged that Delhi Police was using facial recognition technology to identify protesters.
"Delhi Police is targeting all those who joined the protest using facial recognition. They can even give it a communal angle," he said.
Just days after both sides claimed to have reached an understanding, the July 25 agreement now appears to be under strain. The developments over the next 24 hours could determine whether the truce survives or the standoff escalates into another nationwide protest.
