The Cockroach Janta Party will launch a website which tracks legal action taken against protesters and will connect them to lawyers, Rajya Sabha MP Kabil Sibal said on Monday. Sibal further announced ₹1 crore as legal aid for the website, and urged lawyers across India to contribute to the fund.
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“When the central government had promised that no action would be taken against any student, then on whose orders is such deceit taking place? Does the Uttar Pradesh Police want to prove the Prime Minister’s assurances and promises to be mere rhetoric?” Yadav said in a post on X. He called for the immediate release of all the students who had been picked up, and demanded the suspension of “senior officials involved in this illegal activity, followed by the strictest possible action against them.” He urged the Supreme Court to take cognisance “of the danger looming over the lives of these students.”
Meanwhile, the Congress too on Monday “unequivocally” condemned the alleged attacks on students, and offered legal support for those who were served a legal notice, detained, were asked to appear for questioning, or had any of their social media posts taken down. “…Please contact our CKG Legal SOS at 9811867474,” Congress said in a post on X.
CJP demanded the immediate withdrawal of FIRs against the protestors, calling for the students to be released. “We demand that all the FIRs against the protestors be immediately withdrawn, students be released and no future FIRs be filed (in line with our agreement) by Delhi police / Central investigative agencies / Police in BJP-allied states, FAILING WHICH WE WILL BE FORCED TO SIT ON PROTEST AGAIN,” Ranka said. The CJP further asked for a written agreement around legal cases by Tuesday.
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“This CJP will create a framework to track what happened at which place, which student or protester was affected, and what action has been taken against them,” the Rajya Sabha MP and senior advocate said while addressing a press conference along with CJP spokesperson Saurav Das, PTI news agency reported.
Sibal said the website will also identify lawyers who can help the students fight legal battle.” “They will create a website where lawyers willing to provide legal assistance can register their names, location and the kind of help they can offer,” Sibal said. He added, “I will contribute Rs. 1 crore, and urge lawyers across India and others to also contribute to this fund so that wherever the law is misused and false cases are filed against peaceful protesters, we will stand with them. Our lawyers will support them across India.”
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Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Monday claimed several students had been picked up by the Uttar Pradesh Police “under the guise of the Prayagraj protest”, sharing visuals from a local television channel. The Lok Sabha MP highlighted the Centre’s promise “that no action would be taken against any student”, questioning “on whose orders” the alleged action took place.
“The Modi government had promised during the negotiations that no student would be picked up and that there would be no police action against them. But today, there is a list of FIRs that have been filed against students in Patna, West Bengal, and Bihar.” the party said. In a message to the students, the opposition party said the Indian Youth Congress, National Students’ Union of India and Indian Nation Congress stood with them. “You are not alone, and you will not be left alone,” Congress said.
The CJP earlier today issued an ultimatum to the Centre, claiming a breach of agreement amid alleged reports of students’ arrests in Bihar and West Bengal. Citing reports of detention of volunteers in Delhi as well, the CJP said it would be “forced to sit on protest again.”
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“Dear @JPNadda @DrJitendraSingh ji, We are observing a complete breach of the agreement regarding no police action against the protestors. Hundreds of students have been arrested in Bihar and Bengal, and hundreds are being surveilled/harrassed in Delhi and other states,” CJP spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka said in a post on X. “Multiple reports are emerging in Delhi around detention of volunteers supporting protestors with logistics,” he added.
