The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on Saturday alleged that the Centre was not honouring the assurances it gave during the July 25 meeting with government representatives to end their protest at Jantar Mantar.
Addressing a press conference with senior advocate Kapil Sibal, CJP spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka said, “During our third round of talks with JP Nadda ji and Jitendra Singh ji on July 25, it was agreed that all FIRs filed against protesters and organisers in connection with the Jantar Mantar protest, the July 20 protest, and demonstrations held across the country would be withdrawn. It was also agreed that no new FIRs would be filed in the future against any protester or organiser. We had submitted a written draft of this agreement to JP Nadda ji and Jitendra Singh ji, and it was agreed that the government would share its written copy of the agreement with us by Tuesday.”
Ranka said the agreement will be finalised after lawyers from both sides review it. “We are now waiting for the government to share the written agreement at the earliest.”
He said Union Health Minister JP Nadda had confirmed acceptance of CJP’s demands during their joint press conference.
“We expect that if a senior Cabinet Minister enters into an agreement on behalf of the government, it will be honoured,” he added.
Later, speaking to a news agency, he said that the CJP is “deeply shocked that the government is not honouring the assurances it gave.”
He warned that the outfit will launch another sit-in protest in Delhi if the government fails to honour the agreement.
“We expect a written commitment on our demands by tomorrow, Tuesday. If all the protesters are not released and the FIRs are not withdrawn promptly, we will be compelled to organise another sit-in protest here in Delhi…” he added.
CJP to launch website for legal aid to protestors; Sibal announces Rs 1 crore contribution
Meanwhile, the Cockroach Janta Party will launch a website to track legal action being taken against its supporters who joined the Jantar Mantar agitation and connect them to lawyers.
Senior advocate and Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal, who has been giving legal advice to the outfit, announced Rs 1 crore aid for the initiative and urged lawyers to contribute towards the fund.
“They will create a website where lawyers willing to provide legal assistance can register their names, location and the kind of help they can offer,” Sibal said.
He added, “I will contribute Rs. 1 crore, and urge lawyers across India and others to also contribute to this fund so that wherever the law is misused and false cases are filed against peaceful protesters, we will stand with them. Our lawyers will support them across India.”
Earlier in the day, the CJP had expressed concerns over the alleged breach of the agreement regarding police action against protesters.
“Hundreds of students have been arrested in Bihar and Bengal, and hundreds are being surveilled/harassed in Delhi and other states. Multiple reports are emerging in Delhi of the detention of volunteers supporting protesters with logistics,” Ranka said.
He demanded that all the FIRs against the protesters be immediately withdrawn and that students be released, with no future FIRs to be filed against them, “FAILING WHICH WE WILL BE FORCED TO SIT ON PROTEST AGAIN.”