New Delhi: The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), which led a mass youth movement seeking the government’s accountability over the recent examination scandals and called off their protest after education minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation, on Monday (July 27) released a statement reminding the Union government of its assurance that there would not be punitive action against any protester in any state. The statement comes amid multiple reports of police crackdown from various states where protests were held, including Bihar, West Bengal and Assam.

“We are deeply concerned by multiple reports reaching us of students and other protestors being targeted, detained, or arrested by various state agencies, particularly in Assam, West Bengal, and Bihar. The Cockroach Janta Party had called off its nationwide protest only after the Government of India assured us that no punitive action would be taken against any protestor, either now or in the future, in any BJP-ruled or NDA-ruled states. The reports emerging from these states are therefore a matter of grave concern,” read a statement posted on X by CJP chief spokesperson Saurav Das.

“We call upon the Government of India, particularly @JPNadda ji and @DrJitendraSingh ji, to immediately honour the assurance given to us by ensuring the release of those detained and by directing that no coercive or retaliatory action is taken against any protestor anywhere in the country. The FIRs registered ought to be withdrawn too,” the statement read.

The CJP has demanded the government to furnish the guarantee in writing by Tuesday, July 28. 

“Our decision to suspend the nationwide protest was taken in good faith and solely on the basis of the government’s assurance that it would stand by its word. Any departure from that assurance would not merely amount to a breach of trust with the Cockroach Janta Party but........

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