The Cockroach Janata Party has decided to cancel its planned September 5 Delhi march after the Centre assured the Supreme Court that steps would be taken to withdraw FIRs registered against protesters.
New Delhi: The Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) has called off its proposed September 5 protest march in Delhi after the Centre assured the Supreme Court that it would take steps towards withdrawing FIRs filed against protesters.
The development came during proceedings in the Supreme Court on Tuesday, September 1, bringing a temporary end to the confrontation over the proposed demonstration.
The CJP had earlier announced a march from India Gate to the New Delhi Police Headquarters, accusing the government of failing to honour commitments made when its earlier student-led agitation was withdrawn in July.
Why Was the September 5 March Planned?
The CJP had announced the fresh Delhi mobilisation on August 24, alleging that the Centre had not fully implemented assurances given to protesters after the July agitation.
Among the key issues raised by the organisation was the withdrawal of FIRs against protesters.
The proposed march was also linked to demands concerning the families of students who died by suicide following the NEET controversy and allegations of excessive police action during the July 20 protest.
The organisation had described the September 5 demonstration as peaceful and said affected families would participate in the march.
Centre Moves Supreme Court Over FIRs
The latest development followed the Centre’s move before the Supreme Court seeking the quashing of FIRs registered against student protesters.
The government asked the Supreme Court to exercise its powers under Article 142 of the Constitution in relation to the cases.
The government’s position became a key factor in the CJP’s decision to withdraw the planned September 5 mobilisation.
What Did the Supreme Court Say?
The development comes a day after the Supreme Court had declined to impose an immediate restriction on the proposed march.
A bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, along with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana, said there was no compelling reason at that stage to assume that the proposed demonstration would become violent.
The court placed responsibility for maintaining law and order on the relevant authorities and expected both protesters and law-enforcement agencies to follow the law.
The court had also left open the possibility of further intervention if an alarming or untoward situation developed.
CJP’s Earlier Protest and NEET Demands
The CJP’s agitation began with protests over alleged irregularities in the examination system and the NEET-UG paper-leak controversy.
The earlier movement eventually spread beyond Delhi and became a major youth mobilisation.
Following negotiations in July, the protest was called off after the organisation said the government had agreed to several demands, including action concerning families of deceased NEET aspirants and withdrawal of FIRs against protesters.
The dispute resurfaced when the CJP later alleged that commitments made during the negotiations had not been implemented within the expected timeframe.
Why the FIR Issue Became Important
The withdrawal of criminal cases against protesters had become one of the central issues in the dispute between the CJP and the government.
The CJP had earlier warned that failure to make progress on the issue could result in fresh mobilisation.
With the Centre now approaching the Supreme Court on the FIR issue and giving assurances regarding the cases, the organisation has decided not to proceed with the September 5 march.
What Happens Next?
The immediate confrontation over the September 5 protest has now been defused, but several related issues remain before the Supreme Court.
The court is also dealing with petitions concerning the earlier July 20 protest and the broader legal and administrative questions surrounding the demonstrations.
For now, the cancellation of the September 5 march marks a significant shift from the confrontation that had threatened to bring protesters back onto Delhi’s streets.
Key Takeaway
The CJP September 5 Delhi march has been called off after the Centre assured the Supreme Court that it would take steps to withdraw FIRs against protesters. The development follows weeks of disagreement over commitments made during the earlier NEET-related agitation.
