New Delhi: The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has announced a nationwide peaceful protest on July 24 against alleged police brutality on students during the NEET paper leak agitation at Jantar Mantar.
CJP called for demonstrations in every district, urging student unions and organisations to coordinate at the local level, read out students’ demands publicly and express solidarity with those affected by the police action.
The situation remained tense in central Delhi after police alleged being attacked by the protesters in the morning.
Inspector Nand Kishore Singh claimed he was brutally assaulted by a masked mob while he was going for duty near Jantar Mantar. He said 150-200 people armed with sticks and iron rods attacked him, attempted to snatch his belongings and intended to kill him.
CJP blames ‘anti-social elements’ for violence
CJP responded to allegations of violence, saying that infiltrators were to blame for the unrest.
“Our protest from day one has been peaceful. But it has been infiltrated by anti-social elements,” CJP spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka Ranka told HT.
Authorities extended the internet shutdown in central Delhi till midnight. It was earlier supposed to be shut till 4.30 pm.
As a precautionary measure, shops, offices and restaurants in Connaught Place will down shutters at 6.30 pm on Thursday following a New Delhi Traders Association advisory citing the situation around the CJP-led protest in Delhi.
CJP dismisses Modi’s fast-track court announcement
The CJP dismissed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s announcement on setting up fast-track courts for paper leak cases, saying it was only to mislead the people.
According to CJP spokesperson Saurav Das, such announcements are of no use and insisted that it wanted accountability and responsibility, reiterating the stand that it won’t hold discussions with anyone without Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation.
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke criticised the government, saying it took the Prime Minister 34 days to acknowledge the NEET paper leak issue publicly. He termed it “shameful” that the government was still protecting Pradhan despite widespread protests and demands for his resignation.
‘No talks at Nadda’s home, come to Jantar Mantar or Constitution Club’
CJP rejected the government’s latest offer for talks. Referring to Union minister Jitendra Singh’s statement that the government had reached out to the CJP four times, spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka said, “We asked them to come to Jantar Mantar. They refused. They asked us to come to JP Nadda’s house.”
Ranka then asked the crowd whether the CJP should accept the invitation to meet at Nadda’s residence. After protesters responded with a unanimous “No”, he said, “Then we will not go. The public has decided.”
Das said CJP has invited the Centre to hold talks at Jantar Mantar or the Constitution Club.