CJP warns of fresh protest over ‘breach’ of no-police-action agreement

The Abhijeet Dipke-led movement, which began as a satirical political campaign and later grew into a nationwide student protest, had called off its 37-day agitation at Delhi's Jantar Mantar over the weekend in what it described as an act of "good faith" after Dharmendra Pradhan resigned as Education Minister.

Pradhan's resignation was one of the key demands raised by the CJP.

CJP alleges police action against protesters

CJP spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka on Monday alleged that the understanding reached with the government regarding legal action against protesters had been breached.

"We are observing a complete breach of the agreement regarding no police action against the protesters," Ranka said in a post on X.

He alleged that hundreds of students had been arrested in Bihar and West Bengal, while protesters in Delhi and other states were being surveilled and harassed.

Ranka also claimed that volunteers providing logistical support to protesters had been detained in Delhi.

The CJP spokesperson tagged BJP president JP Nadda and Union Minister Jitendra Singh, who had acted as government interlocutors during talks with the protest group.

Demand for FIRs to be withdrawn

The CJP has demanded the immediate withdrawal of all FIRs registered against protesters and the release of students who remain in custody.

It has also sought an assurance that no fresh FIRs will be filed against protesters in the future by the Delhi Police, central investigative agencies or police forces in states governed by BJP allies.

"Failing which we will be forced to sit on protest again," Ranka said.

The group has also asked the government to provide, by Tuesday, the written agreement on legal cases that it says was promised during negotiations.

CJP had called off 37-day protest

The latest warning comes days after the CJP ended its 37-day protest at Jantar Mantar following a third round of discussions with government representatives at the Constitution Club on Saturday.

According to the CJP, the government had agreed to provide suitable compensation to the families of NEET aspirants who died by suicide and had assured the group that FIRs registered against protesters across India would be withdrawn.

The CJP had presented a five-point demand charter during the talks and said the next round of negotiations would take place after four weeks.

FIRs filed after July 20 Parliament march

The dispute over police action intensified after several FIRs were registered against protesters following the CJP's July 20 "Chalo Sansad" march.

The march began at Jantar Mantar as protesters attempted to move towards Parliament.

The demonstration turned tense after police used tear gas and batons to disperse the crowd, leading to clashes and multiple detentions.

The CJP had subsequently demanded the withdrawal of all cases and an assurance that protesters would not face legal action in the future.

Supreme Court comments on police excesses

The issue also came amid observations by the Supreme Court on Monday that police excesses or a lathi charge cannot be justified merely because an agitation is taking place.

The court observed that the right to peaceful protest is "absolutely guaranteed".

The developments also reverberated in Parliament, where Opposition MPs repeatedly disrupted proceedings and demanded a government response over the alleged police crackdown on protesters.

Amid the political confrontation, the government introduced legislation in the Lok Sabha proposing tougher penalties for examination paper leaks.