The Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) on Wednesday expanded its list of demands as its ongoing protest entered the 32nd day, with its spokesperson, Ashutosh Ranka, announcing that the protesters are now demanding that no FIR be registered or legal action taken against those who participated in the July 20 demonstration.
Addressing the protesters, Ranka said the agitation now had four demands: the release of Sonam Wangchuk, the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, $1 crore compensation to the families of the suicides, and withdrawal of any legal action against the peaceful demonstrators who participated in the July 20 protests.
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“A lot of people were worried that they protested peacefully but were being targeted. We will ensure that no legal action is taken against the peaceful protesters. We will be arrested before you guys,” he said.
“Today it has been 32 days since we started the protest,” Ranka said, claiming that the protest had grown despite attempts to suppress it. “Those who say that the students of this country do not know how to protest can see that for themselves.”
Referring to the July 20 protest, he claimed that authorities believed the unrest would end after police action and restrictions on setting up tents.
“These people thought they would crush the students on July 20 and the protest would end. They thought they would not let us set up tents and the protest would end. But it has become 100 times bigger,” he said.
Ranka described it as a “decisive battle,” adding, “This battle aims to end the government’s arrogance.”
He also criticized Delhi Police’s handling of the July 20 protest, saying: “What Delhi Police did on that day, people all over the world saw.”
Claiming that the protest forced the government to change its stance, Ranka said: “We have made the government bend. The same government that used to call us a ‘cockroach’ and a ‘virus’. People are now questioning the government. This is the victory of our protest.”
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The announcement comes two days after the Center held its first official talks with the CJP since the unrest intensified. On Monday, Union Minister JP Nadda met CPM spokespersons Ashutosh Ranka and Sourav Das at his residence in Delhi after the government, according to the party, reached out seeking talks.
Following the meeting, the Justice and Development Party said it had submitted a written memorandum outlining its demands. Ranka later claimed that Nadda had sought more time to consult with the BJP leadership before acceding to the group’s demands, which at that time included the release of Sonam Wangchuk, the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, and $Compensation of Rs 1 crore to the families of NEET aspirants who allegedly died by suicide.
