CJP To Review Centre's Promises On Exam Irregularities On Aug 24, Fresh Nationwide Protest Remains An Option

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) will hold a meeting of its national working committee on Monday, Aug 24, to review the Centre's progress in fulfilling commitments made after the party withdrew its nationwide agitation against exam irregularities on July 25.

The CJP said the government has yet to communicate the steps being taken to implement the assurances.

"All steps to secure fulfilment of the commitments would be considered, including the possibility of launching another peaceful nationwide agitation", the CJP said.

"The CJP called off its agitation in good faith because the government gave its word to the young people of this country," it said, adding that it would not allow that "good faith" to be mistaken for "weakness".

The party asked students, young citizens, supporters and volunteers to remain prepared for the outcome of Monday's meeting.

Supreme Court Seeks Consolidated List Of FIRs

The CJP's announcement came days after the Supreme Court on Aug 18 sought a consolidated list of First Information Reports (FIRs) registered against students and protesters across the country.

According to the CJP, the Supreme Court asked the Centre three times to provide the list so that it could consider exercising its powers under Article 142 to quash the cases.

"Despite the court repeatedly asking for this list, the Union government did not commit to providing it," the CJP said.

Following the hearing, CJP co-convener Saurav Das and legal affairs lead Ratna Singh expressed concern that the government appeared to be "cheating" the younger generation after the party had withdrawn its agitation based on commitments made during talks with the Centre.

CJP Says Written Assurances Yet To Be Fulfilled

The assurances included the withdrawal or quashing of all FIRs arising from the protests, a guarantee that no student or peaceful protester would face punitive action in future, and compensation for the families of National Eligibility cum Entrance Test-Undergraduate (NEET-UG) candidates who died by suicide after the examination was cancelled in May following paper leaks.

The CJP said the government delegation that held talks with it had not formally reached out to place on record the measures being taken to fulfil the written assurances, including those concerning FIRs and compensation.

The party said it had withdrawn its agitation based on the government's word and warned that any attempt to "dilute, delay, reinterpret or dishonour" the commitments would amount to "vishwasghaat" (betrayal) of the country's youth.

Fresh Nationwide Agitation Remains An Option

The national working committee will assess the situation on Monday and decide the party's next course of action, with another peaceful nationwide agitation remaining among the options.

The CJP ended its nationwide agitation on July 25, shortly after then-Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned and the government assured it that students and peaceful protesters would not face punitive action.

The campaign had also sought action over the NEET paper leak controversy and compensation for the families of those who died.