The Karoch Janata Party (CJP) has expressed fears that the government may use the Supreme Court’s recent order to uphold the cases filed against the agitators and harass them. The party has threatened to launch another agitation across India if all the cases are not withdrawn as promised.
According to NDTV report, on Tuesday (July 28) several petitions were heard against students in various places including Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, alleging excessive use of force during the anti-question leak movement. A bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant ordered no coercive action against the peaceful protesters. At the same time, those who have no previous criminal record and who are in detention, are ordered to be released.
However, the court said the Delhi government (NCT) and other state governments can continue to investigate the FIRs filed earlier. However, no strict action can be taken against the peaceful protesting students. This protection, however, will not apply to those who have a criminal record against them.
Then on Tuesday evening in a post on social media X, CJP spokesperson Saurabh Das said, this order of the court should be a matter of concern for the entire country.
He said that this order of the court is in conflict with the promise made by the government on July 25. The government then assured that all FIRs against the protestors would be withdrawn and that no one would be directly or indirectly harassed for participating in the peaceful protest. On the basis of that assurance, the CJP called off the movement across the country.
Saurabh Das claims that now they fear that the Indian government and the BJP-ruled states will use the order of Chief Justice Surya Kant’s bench to uphold the cases against the protesters and harass them.
According to him, from the beginning they feared that the courts could be used directly or indirectly to suppress peaceful dissent.
He claimed that such a promise made in public cannot be undermined in secret. The Center and BJP/NDA-ruled state governments can withdraw the FIRs against the protesters and decide not to take any further action against the peaceful protesters.
Saurabh Das reminded the government about the deadline given on Tuesday as well as on Monday. He said, ‘The deadline for the implementation of the government’s promises is ending today. We reiterate our call—withdraw all FIRs, guarantee that no disciplinary action will be taken against any agitator in future and fulfill every promise made while withdrawing the agitation.’
He warned that if this promise is not kept, the CJP will have no option but to start a movement across the country again. In his words, ‘A government that does not keep its promises cannot expect the youth to remain silent. If the promise is broken, the streets of India will once again be filled with the voices of the youth.
Earlier on Monday, Ashutosh Ranka, another spokesperson of the CJP, alleged that the agreement with the government had been completely violated and hundreds of protesters had been arrested.
He demanded immediate withdrawal of all FIRs against the agitators, release of detained students and assurance that no new cases will be filed in future by the Delhi Police, the Central Investigation Agency and the police of BJP-backed states. If not, they will be forced to go into the movement again.
Incidentally, the CJP started a continuous movement at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar from June 20 to protest the question leak. One of the main demands of the agitators was the resignation of the then Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
On July 20, they held a ‘Parliament Chalo March’ programme. Lathi charge, tear gas and pellet guns were used on the agitators in that program. Hundreds of policemen were also injured in this incident.
Dharmendra Pradhan resigned last Saturday after two rounds of meetings with the central government. The CJP announced the withdrawal of the agitation within hours after receiving assurances of no action against the peaceful protesters and compensation for the families of the students who committed suicide following the net questioning.
TimesBD/ rabbi
