Last Updated on July 29, 2026 12:08 am by INDIAN AWAAZ
Party warns of fresh nationwide protests if Centre fails to honour July 25 commitments
“If the harassment of students at the hands of the police continues, the Cockroach Janta Party will respond with a massive peaceful protest soon. The government must stop targeting and witch-hunting students,” says the founder of the Cockroach Janta Party, Abhijeet Dipke.
AMN / NEWS DESK
New Delhi: The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has intensified pressure on the Centre, demanding the immediate withdrawal of all FIRs registered against students who participated in the recent nationwide protests, arguing that the Supreme Court’s interim order does not fulfil the assurances given by the government during negotiations that led to the suspension of the agitation.
Talking to media persons on Tuesday, CJP leaders maintained that while they respect the Supreme Court’s directions aimed at protecting student protesters, their primary demand remains the complete withdrawal of criminal cases and a written guarantee that no further legal action will be taken against demonstrators.
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke and the party’s chief spokesperson Saurav Das warned that the organisation would launch another nationwide protest, including a major demonstration in Delhi, if the Centre failed to honour what they described as commitments made during talks on July 25.
“Our understanding with the government was that all FIRs filed against peaceful protesters would be withdrawn. The Supreme Court’s observations cannot replace the assurances given by the government. Those assurances must be implemented first,” Das said.
He added that the party had expected the Centre to issue a written guarantee by Tuesday confirming the withdrawal of all FIRs, the release of detained students and protection against any future retaliatory action.
CJP says court order differs from government’s promise
The controversy follows the Supreme Court’s interim order, which directed that no coercive action be taken against student protesters with no criminal background in cases linked to the CJP-led demonstrations.
The court also ordered the release of eligible detained students, preservation of CCTV footage and electronic evidence, and a fair investigation into injuries sustained by both protesters and police personnel.
However, the court did not direct the withdrawal of existing FIRs and allowed investigations in those cases to continue.
CJP leaders argued that this position differs from the understanding reached during negotiations with the government.
Das alleged that the Centre had assured the party that cases against peaceful protesters would be withdrawn and that no participant would face legal consequences for joining the demonstrations.
“The conditions laid down by the Supreme Court are not acceptable as a substitute for the commitments made by the government,” he said, adding that any judicial relief should be “in addition to” and not “in place of” the government’s assurances.
Written assurance sought
The party has demanded that the Union government formally place the alleged agreement before the Supreme Court so that it can be considered in future proceedings.
According to Das, while the court has not ordered governments to continue with the FIRs, the executive has the authority to withdraw criminal cases if it chooses to do so.
He also expressed concern that BJP-ruled states could continue legal proceedings against protesters unless the Centre issues clear directions in line with the assurances allegedly made during negotiations.
Fresh agitation warning
Reiterating the party’s stand, CJP spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka called upon Union Ministers J.P. Nadda and Jitendra Singh to ensure that all cases against protesters are withdrawn immediately.
He demanded:
- Withdrawal of all FIRs registered against student protesters.
- Immediate release of all detained students.
- A written assurance that neither Delhi Police, central agencies nor police in BJP- or NDA-ruled states would register fresh cases against peaceful protesters.
Ranka said that if these demands are not met, the CJP would have “no option” but to resume its nationwide agitation.
Some states begin withdrawing cases
The CJP said it has received official notifications from the governments of Bihar and Assam regarding the withdrawal of cases against protesters. The party also claimed it had received assurances from the Rajasthan government that no punitive action would be taken against students who participated in the protests.
The developments, according to CJP leaders, demonstrate that state governments can withdraw cases, reinforcing their demand that the Centre ensure similar action across the country.
Background
The CJP had suspended its nationwide agitation after holding talks with the Centre, claiming the government had agreed to consider several demands related to police action against student protesters.
The Supreme Court’s interim order has provided protection against immediate coercive action for eligible protesters but stopped short of ordering the withdrawal of pending FIRs—a key demand that the CJP says remains unresolved.
The party has now made the withdrawal of all criminal cases and a written guarantee from the Centre the central issue, warning that failure to fulfil these commitments could trigger another round of nationwide protests.
West Bengal Says No Coercive Action Against Student Protesters, Cites Supreme Court Order
State announces protection for NEET protest participants without criminal antecedents; 16 arrested in one registered case
Kolkata, July 28: The West Bengal government on Tuesday announced that no coercive action will be taken against students who participated in protests over the alleged irregularities in the NEET (UG) examination, provided they do not have any criminal antecedents. The decision comes in compliance with an interim order passed by the Supreme Court earlier in the day.
In a press release issued by the Home & Hill Affairs Department, the state government said that as of 6:00 p.m. on July 26, one case had been registered in West Bengal based on a police complaint in connection with the NEET protest demonstrations. Sixteen persons have been arrested in relation to the case.
After reviewing the matter and taking into account the Supreme Court’s interim order in Shailendra Mani Tripathi vs Union of India & Others, the state government announced two immediate measures.
First, it said no coercive measures would be taken against students who participated in the protests over the alleged NEET (UG) examination irregularities. However, the protection will not apply to persons with criminal antecedents, in line with the Supreme Court’s directions.
The press release was issued by the Office of the Senior Special Secretary, Home & Hill Affairs Department.
Background
The announcement follows the Supreme Court’s interim order on petitions related to the nationwide student protests over alleged irregularities in the NEET (UG) examination. The apex court directed that no coercive action be taken against student protesters without a criminal background, ordered the release of eligible detainees, and called for a fair investigation into incidents of violence involving both protesters and police. However, it did not order the withdrawal of FIRs already registered, allowing investigations to continue.
The issue has also become a key point of contention between the Centre and the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), which has demanded the complete withdrawal of all FIRs against student protesters and warned of fresh nationwide demonstrations if its demands are not met. West Bengal’s announcement is among the first formal state responses following the Supreme Court’s interim directions.