India’s student-led Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has issued a one-day ultimatum to the government on Monday night, demanding the immediate withdrawal of police cases against demonstrators or face the resumption of mass protests. The ultimatum would expire on Tuesday, July 28.
Addressing a press conference in New Delhi on Monday alongside Rajya Sabha member Kapil Sibal, CJP national spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka stated that the movement was still awaiting the government’s promised written agreement confirming the annulment of all FIR’s [First Information Reports] filed against protesters and organizers.
“In the third round of talks, we had agreed that all FIRs filed against protesters and organizers across the country would be withdrawn and no new FIR would be filed against any organizer and protester,” Ranka said, adding that a draft of the agreement was submitted to government representatives J.P. Nadda and Jitendra Singh.
The spokesperson noted that the organization had previously believed the word of government representative J.P. Nadda during negotiations, expecting such commitments to be “honored”.
Following Monday’s press briefing, CJP representatives met with Delhi police officials, receiving a Bihar government press release as surety stating that no legal action would follow against local demonstrators. However, CJP spokesperson Saurav Das reaffirmed that the collective would not abandon anyone facing prosecution.
The movement reported that at least 100 people remain arrested across the country, with many facing non-bailable charges alongside reports of illegal detentions in West Bengal, Assam, and Bihar. In response, the CJP has established a dedicated legal fund to assist protesters facing ongoing criminal proceedings.
The student movement previously staged a 36-day sit-in at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, making global headlines on July 20 when police deployed brutal force against the non-violent demonstrators.
