New Delhi, 24 August—Rallying against the unkept promises of the Modi government, the Cockroach Janta Party has called for a peaceful protest march from India Gate to the Delhi Police headquarters on the Teachers Day on September 5.
In a return of the Season 2 of the Jantar Mantar protests in June-July, CJP spokesperson Saurav Das announced that the march would question whether the Centre intended to honour the commitments made to them on July 25.
The demonstration, which will start at the India Gate and reach the New Delhi Police Headquarters, will be led by the families of the NEET students who died by suicide and victims of the July 20 police brutality, a statement of the CJP said on X.
“The National Working Committee expressed serious doubts over whether the Government of India intends to honour its commitments made to the young generation on July 25,” Das wrote on X.
“We will not accept this Vishwasghaat (Betrayal) with Gen Z, the young protesters, and the families of those who died,” he added.
In a statement released after a key press meet, the party said the march will be led by families of deceased NEET victims and victims of alleged police brutality during the July 20 ‘Sansad Chalo’ march.
The announcement came after the outfit’s National Working Committee convened today (Monday) at 2 pm to review the Central government’s alleged failure to fulfil commitments made to the country’s youth, including assurances regarding the withdrawal or quashing of FIRs registered against students and protesters, as well as compensation for the families of deceased NEET victims.
Enraged and disappointed, the outfit accused the government of playing games, hiding behind technicalities and avoiding giving clear commitments instead of implementing what was promised on July 25.
“For a month now, instead of implementing what was solemnly promised, the Government has played delay games, hidden behind technicalities, and avoided giving clear commitments even before the Supreme Court of India,” the statement read.
It alleged that the union government refused to give a commitment in response to the Supreme Court’s directive to provide a list of FIRs registered across the country so that the Court could consider quashing them together, at one go.
“On 18 August, the Supreme Court repeatedly asked the Union Government to provide a list of FIRs registered across the country so that the Court could consider quashing them together, at one go, making the commitment easiest to fulfil. Yet, the Government refused to give a clear commitment to do so. The written assurance from the Government to the CJP is also due.”
The statement added that the outfit’s patience cannot be mistaken for weakness. “Our good faith cannot become an opportunity for the Government to betray us.”
CJP said it had been “forced to return to the streets” as the government appeared determined to commit a “vishwasghaat” with Gen-Z and families who had lost their children. It said the young generation had trusted the promises made by the government on July 25 and that it had withdrawn its nationwide movement in good faith.
“A government cannot take the trust of an entire generation, use it to send them home, and then quietly retreat from its own word. We will not accept this attempted betrayal.”
CJP called on young Indians, students, youth and student organisations to gather at India Gate on September 5 and peacefully march with it. It said families who had lost their children and victims of police brutality would lead the march.
If solemn commitments made to the youth of this country mean anything, the Government must honour them, in letter and in spirit.”
CJP Co-Convener Saurav Das and Legal Affairs Lead Ratna Singh had warned that the government appeared to be attempting to “cheat the young generation of this country” after securing the withdrawal of the agitation on the basis of solemn commitments made at the joint press conference.
After a 37-day protest at New Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, then Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned on July 25. The government also promised to quash FIRs against student protesters and provide ₹1 crore in compensation to the families of students who died following the NEET exam paper leak.
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