NEW DELHI: The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has accused the Central government of violating an understanding reached after the recent nationwide student protests, alleging that students and protesters continue to face arrests, detentions and police action despite assurances that no punitive measures would be taken. The organisation has warned that it will resume its agitation if the reported cases are not withdrawn and those detained are not released.
Speaking at a press conference in New Delhi, CJP leaders claimed that the government’s commitment to refrain from taking action against peaceful protesters had not been honoured. They alleged that police agencies in several states have continued registering FIRs and detaining students who participated in demonstrations linked to the NEET paper leak controversy and broader education reforms.
Allegations of arrests across multiple states
According to CJP, reports have emerged from states including West Bengal, Bihar and Assam where students and activists have allegedly been detained or booked despite the Centre’s earlier assurance. The organisation described these developments as a “breach of trust” and demanded that all criminal cases against peaceful protesters be withdrawn immediately.
Party representatives argued that many of those facing legal action had participated in peaceful demonstrations and should not be subjected to criminal proceedings. They said the continuation of police action undermines confidence in the dialogue held between protest leaders and the government.
Deadline issued to the Centre
The CJP has given the Centre a deadline to address its concerns, warning that failure to act would result in fresh protests beginning this week. The group has demanded written assurances confirming that no further action will be taken against students and that those already detained will be released without delay.
Leaders of the movement maintained that they had suspended earlier protests in good faith after receiving assurances from the government. However, they now believe those commitments have not been fulfilled.
Legal support announced for affected students
Senior advocate and Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal, who addressed the press conference alongside CJP representatives, announced legal assistance for students facing criminal cases. He said a legal defence initiative would help protesters obtain representation in courts and ensure that students are not left to fight legal battles on their own.
The organisation also announced plans to create a digital platform that will connect affected students with volunteer lawyers. In addition, CJP unveiled an evidence repository intended to collect videos, photographs and documents related to police action during the protests, which it says could be used in future legal proceedings.
Background of the protest movement
The recent nationwide protests began over allegations of irregularities and paper leaks in competitive examinations, particularly NEET. Student groups demanded accountability, reforms in the examination system and action against those responsible for the alleged leaks.
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The movement gained momentum across several cities, drawing support from students, activists and opposition leaders. Following sustained demonstrations, the government announced a series of education reforms, while political developments surrounding the Education Ministry led to a temporary suspension of the protests.
CJP leaders now argue that although some of their concerns received attention, the continued registration of criminal cases against protesters contradicts the assurances that encouraged them to suspend their agitation.
Demand for democratic safeguards
The organisation stressed that peaceful protest is a democratic right and urged authorities to ensure that students are not penalised for participating in public demonstrations. It maintained that withdrawing FIRs and releasing detainees would help restore confidence between the government and the protest movement.
CJP also appealed to civil society, legal professionals and citizens to support students facing legal proceedings. The group said it would continue monitoring developments in different states and provide assistance wherever required.
Government yet to respond
At the time of the press conference, there was no detailed official response from the Central government addressing the latest allegations. The CJP has said it will closely watch the government’s actions over the coming days before deciding its next course of protest.
With student groups remaining active and legal challenges continuing in multiple states, the dispute over police action against protesters is likely to remain a significant issue in the ongoing debate over education reforms and democratic rights in India.
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