'Will be forced to protest again': CJP warns govt, asks it to drop FIRs against protesters

In a fresh statement, CJP spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka has called on the government to ensure no charges are filed against protestors.

The Cockroach Janta Party on Monday has warned the government that it will be forced to launch another protest if all FIRs against student protestors are not withdrawn.

In a fresh statement, CJP spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka has called on the government, particularly union ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh, to ensure no charges are filed against protestors. Ranka also called for all detained students to be released immediately.

"We demand that all the FIRs against the protestors be immediately withdrawn, students be released and no future FIRs be filed (in line with our agreement) by Delhi police / Central investigative agencies / Police in BJP-allied states, FAILING WHICH WE WILL BE FORCED TO SIT ON PROTEST AGAIN," Ranka wrote on X.

Ranka's remarks follow a similar statement issued by Saurav Das, which addressed reports that students and other protestors were being targeted, detained, or arrested.

Before withdrawing its protest, the CJP stated that the government had assured it that no legal or police cases would be filed against protestors or volunteers for participating in protests at Jantar Mantar and in other Indian cities.

"The CJP continues to closely monitor the situation and expects the Government of India and all BJP/NDA state governments to act with utmost urgency, responsibility, and good faith that the present circumstances demand," Das added further in his statement.

Also Read | CJP asks govt to 'immediately honour' promises after protesters detained across India

AISA national president Neha Bora also called on the government to honour its assurance and withdraw all cases against the protestors.

"The Union government had assured that no cases would be filed against students protesting against the paper leak and that the existing cases would be withdrawn. However, hundreds of students remain in jail across Bihar. Arresting students and invoking serious charges such as attempt to murder against them for protesting is unacceptable," Bora told reporters.

CJP draws flak for ‘resignation party’

After CJP ended its protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar, the youth-led movement came under fresh scrutiny after videos showed some of its leaders dancing and celebrating Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation as education minister.

The videos shared on social media purportedly show CJP spokesperson Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka and other members dancing and celebrating, following the end of the 37-day protest.

The criticism for the CJP came in after multiple reports surfaced regarding the detention of students, volunteers and protestors across India.

In response to the criticism, Das defended the videos and stated that the critics "failed to understand" Gen-Z's approach to activism.

“We can sit on the road for as long as it takes. We can protest while dancing. We can organise while sipping cold coffee. We can fight for change without looking the way previous generations think a movement should look (no shade on anyone!)," he wrote.

"That’s just how this generation is. Confident, creative, resilient, and IMPOSSIBLE to stereotype. The uncles and aunties can keep complaining. They’ll just have to deal with us!" Das added further.

Danita Yadav is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times. Based in New Delhi, Danita serves as a pivotal voice in international reportage in the team. Operating under the mandate of delivering "without the noise", Danita excels at distilling complex geopolitical developments into lucid, objective narratives which prioritise factual accuracy over sensationalism. In HT, Danita has been recognised for her breaking news efforts and time-bound coverage of the Air India crash, which has driven over 2 million users to the website through trusted, factual coverage of the incident. Thriving in high-pressure editorial environments, Danita has also cultivated a reputation for navigating the nuances of global diplomacy and cross-border policy. With over four years of experience in the journalism industry, Danita has spent her years diving deep into the coverage of international relations and global conflicts. She has previously worked with the news teams at Outlook India and Times Network, covering a wide range of beats and topics, from education curricula and student protests to Indian politics and international conflicts such as the Ukraine, Gaza, and Sudan wars. Danita earned her Bachelor's Degree in Journalism from Kamala Nehru College, University of Delhi. Beyond the newsroom and her love for international relations, you'll find Danita 'geeking' out over books, music and BTS. Her appreciation for global pop culture and storytelling also added to her unique perspective on the "soft power" dynamics that increasingly have shaped international relations in the ever-changing global order.Read More