CJP calls for public apology to protesting students; Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation is non-negotiable | Read the entire letter | Today’s news

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on Friday sent a letter to the Center demanding a public apology from the Delhi Police to the student protesters “brutally beaten” at Jantar Mantar on July 20.

“The Government of India, the Rapid Action Force Commander and the Delhi Police Commissioner should publicly apologize to the students who were brutally beaten by their forces,” they wrote in a letter to Union Health Minister JP Nadda.

They also reiterated three of their non-negotiable demands – the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan, ₹1 million in compensation for the families of the suicide victims and no legal action against the protesters.

The organization also asked that the demands be accepted as soon as possible. If not, the movement would only get bigger and spread across the country, the CJP said.

Read the full CJP letter here:

“This is in view of the ongoing CJP protest at Jantar Mantar. We appreciate the government’s efforts to find a win-win solution.”

Over the past few days, we have held extensive consultations with our supporters and members across the country and with the protesters at Jantar Mantar. We have come to a clear consensus that our demands, namely the resignation of Mr. Dharmendra Pradhan, ₹1 crore compensation for the NEET victims and no legal action against the protestors is non-negotiable.

Furthermore, the Government of India, the Rapid Action Force Commander and the Delhi Police Commissioner should publicly apologize to the students who were brutally beaten by their forces.

We request that all these demands be accepted as soon as possible otherwise the movement will only grow and spread across the country.

We would also appreciate the government’s response to our five-point charter of demands for exam reforms. The Charter will prove to be critical in bringing about the larger structural reforms needed in the education system.

What happened at the July 24 meeting?

CJP representatives Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka met Union Ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh on July 24.

Friday’s meeting came hours after activist Sonam Wangchuk ended her 26-day hunger strike late on Thursday after the government assured her of her key demands.

The two-hour meeting was held at Vithalbhai Patel House after the CJP declined the government’s invitation to hold a meeting at the minister’s residence or office, insisting that the discussions should be held at a neutral venue.

Nadda said the ministers listened to their demands and conveyed that they would return to the CJP. “We will meet again on Saturday,” he said.

“We have told the Union ministers that our demand for Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation is non-negotiable,” Das told reporters after the meeting.

This was the third official meeting between the CJP and the government. Nadda held two follow-up meetings with Das and Ranka on July 20 at the minister’s residence.

That was the day thousands of protesters responded to the call of “Sansad Chalo” and started marching towards Parliament, only to be pushed back by police batons and tear gas. Dozens of people were injured.