Days after the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) announced the suspension of its nationwide protest following discussions with the Central Government, the party has expressed serious concern over reports of protesters being detained and arrested in several parts of the country. The organization has now urged the government to immediately fulfil the assurances it claims were made during negotiations, particularly the promise that no punitive action would be taken against individuals who participated in the movement.
In a statement issued by CJP spokesperson Saurav Das, the party alleged that the government had assured its leadership that no protester would face legal action, either immediately or in the future, in BJP-ruled or NDA-ruled states. Based on those assurances, the CJP said it decided to call off its nationwide agitation.
“The Cockroach Janta Party had called off its nationwide protest only after the Government of India assured us that no punitive action would be taken against any protestor, either now or in the future, in any BJP-ruled or NDA-ruled states. The reports emerging from these states are therefore a matter of grave concern,” Das said in the statement.
One of the key demands put forward by the CJP during its discussions with the government was that no First Information Reports (FIRs) would be filed against those who took part in the protests. The party has now alleged that this assurance is being violated, citing reports of fresh detentions and criminal cases being registered against demonstrators.
Expressing concern over the developments, the CJP called upon the Central Government, particularly Union Ministers JP Nadda and Dr. Jitendra Singh, to intervene and ensure that the commitments made during the negotiations are implemented without delay.
“We call upon the Government of India, particularly @JPNadda ji and @DrJitendraSingh 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 The FIRs registered ought to be withdrawn too,” the statement added.
According to the party, the reported arrests and legal proceedings against protesters have created uncertainty among those who participated in the agitation, despite what it describes as a clear understanding reached with the government before the protest was withdrawn.
The CJP has maintained that its decision to end the protest was made in good faith, based on assurances that participants would not face reprisals. It has argued that any action against protesters now would undermine trust between the government and organizations engaging in democratic protest.
As of now, the Central Government has not issued an official response to the CJP’s latest statement or addressed the allegations regarding the reported detentions and FIRs. It also remains unclear how many protesters have been detained or in which states the reported actions have taken place.
The latest developments have added a fresh dimension to the issue, with the CJP insisting that the government act swiftly to ensure the release of detained protesters, withdraw any FIRs filed against them, and uphold the commitments it says were made during negotiations. The party has indicated that it will continue to monitor the situation closely while awaiting a formal response from the government.