NEW DELHI: Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) will convene a meeting of its national working committee on Monday to review the Centre’s commitments that led to the withdrawal of its nationwide agitation on July 25, with the outfit saying that any attempt to backtrack could amount to “vishwasghaat” (betrayal) with the country’s youth.The CJP said the government was yet to formally communicate the steps being taken to fulfil assurances made during talks with the protesters. It said the committee would consider all options to secure implementation of the commitments, including the possibility of launching another peaceful nationwide agitation.“The CJP called off its agitation in good faith because the government gave its word to the young people of this country,” CJP said, adding that it would not allow that “good faith” to be mistaken for “weakness”.The CJP has also asked students, young citizens, supporters and volunteers to remain prepared for the outcome of Monday’s meeting.The warning comes days after the Supreme Court, on August 18, sought a consolidated list of FIRs registered against students and protesters across the country. According to the CJP, the court asked the Centre three times to provide the list so it could consider exercising its powers under Article 142 to quash the cases.“Despite the court repeatedly asking for this list, the Union government did not commit to providing it,” the CJP said.The party said that any attempt to “dilute, delay, reinterpret or dishonour” the commitments, would be seen as “vishwasghaat” (betrayal) with the country’s youthThe outfit said its co-convener Saurav Das and legal affairs lead Ratna Singh raised concerns after the hearing that the government appeared to be “cheating” the younger generation by failing to act on the commitments made when the agitation was withdrawn.Those assurances included withdrawal or quashing of FIRs linked to the protests, a guarantee that students and peaceful protesters would not face punitive action in future, and compensation for families of NEET-UG candidates who died by suicide after the examination was cancelled in May following paper-leak allegations.
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Meanwhile, fresh guidelines issued to Delhi Police personnel have advised officers to remain calm during protests, avoid provocation and assume that their conduct will be recorded and scrutinised.The directions follow allegations of police excesses during the CJP’s Jantar Mantar protest last month. “Your anger is their satisfaction and content for them to portray you as villains,” the guidelines say.The advisory asks personnel to avoid arguments with protesters and not react to taunts, songs, placards or attempts to provoke them. It also stresses assisting protesters who fall ill or are injured and ensuring unobstructed movement for ambulances, schoolchildren and elderly people.(With inputs from PTI)
