Modi government fails to keep promise, ‘Cockroach People’s Party’ to take to streets again
The CJP withdrew its 36 day protest at Jantar Mantar on July 25.Picture: Reuters
The ‘Cockroach People’s Party’ (CJP) is once again preparing to take to the streets. After a national executive committee meeting in New Delhi on Monday the organization announced that it will hold a peaceful march in the capital on September 5, Teachers’ Day.
The organization claims that key parts of the commitments made by the central government after the July 25 agreement have still not been implemented.
Family members of candidates who died in incidents related to the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) and those who were victims of excessive police force during the July protests are expected to lead the march. The organization has also called on students, young people and CJP supporters across the country to join the Delhi program.
Earlier on July 25 the CJP withdrew its 36-day long protest at Jantar Mantar. The movement was launched over allegations of irregularities and question paper leaks in NEET and other competitive examinations. One of its key demands was the resignation of then Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. After his resignation the student organization called off the protest following discussions with the central government.
However, the CJP now alleges that despite assurances given when the protest was withdrawn no effective steps have been taken to withdraw the FIRs filed against protesting students and demonstrators or to provide compensation to the families of candidates who died in incidents related to NEET. The organization also claims that the promise to provide written assurances has yet to be fulfilled.
On August 18 the CJP had also warned the central government over the issue. Organization spokesperson Sourav Das alleged that the process of withdrawing FIRs against students was being unnecessarily delayed. That day the organization also accused police of using excessive force during the July protests.
Later the Supreme Court formed a five-member high level investigation committee over police action during the July 20 march to Parliament. The committee is headed by retired Justice R. Subhash Reddy.
The CJP said it withdrew its July protest because it trusted the discussions with the Modi government. However, it said that if there continues to be delay in fulfilling the commitments it will not be possible to maintain that trust. That is why it has decided to take to the streets of Delhi again.
However, Delhi Police said no application seeking permission for the September 5 march from India Gate to the police headquarters has been submitted to them.
