Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) has announced the formation of ‘Legal Aid Cell’ across the country and launch of ‘SAAKSHI’ portal to collect evidence of police brutality. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal has promised to provide a fund of ₹ 1 crore for the legal defense of the protesters. Let us tell you, CJP held a press conference on Monday, which was addressed by senior advocate Kapil Sibal, chief spokesperson Saurav Das and spokespersons Ashutosh Ranka and Ratna Singh.
Inaugurating the press conference, Saurav Das said that even before the peaceful protest at Jantar Mantar ended on July 25, and in the days that followed, the CJP leadership was apprehensive that students and protesters across the country could be targeted and harassed by BJP governments by detaining, arresting and filing criminal cases. Given these apprehensions, the CJP leadership met senior advocate Dr. Kapil Sibal and sought his legal advice on both the immediate challenges arising from the protest and future legal battles.
During these discussions, Dr. Sibal advised that the movement should create a strong national legal aid framework by creating a network of lawyers across the country. This network can help those CJP protesters who are facing government action. Speaking to the media, Dr. Kapil Sibal expressed his full support towards the youth movement and said that he would be happy to help the CJP overcome any legal hurdles it may face.
He explained in detail about his vision of creating a ‘Legal Aid Cell’ for the CJP. This cell will be supported by lawyers from every district of India, so that no student or peaceful protestor is deprived of legal representation when faced with arbitrary government action.
To achieve this objective, Dr. Sibal announced a fund of ₹1 crore for the establishment and functioning of the CJP Legal Aid Cell. He clarified that this fund will be used only to provide legal aid to the protesters and not for any other purpose. Also, he left it to the CJP leadership to decide how to use these funds in the most effective manner.
On behalf of CJP, Saurav Das thanked Dr. Sibal for his guidance, encouragement and generous contribution in protecting the constitutional rights of the young protesters. He further announced that the party will soon launch a dedicated website on which lawyers from every district of India will be able to register themselves and become part of this National Legal Aid Network. Dr. Sibal also appealed to the lawyers across the country to come forward and contribute generously to strengthen this Legal Aid Fund, so that students and peaceful protesters always get timely legal aid.
Subsequently, spokesperson Ratna Singh gave detailed information about the detention and arrest of students and protesters in several BJP-ruled states, especially Bihar, West Bengal and Assam. He assured the affected students that CJP has stood with them since the beginning and will continue to provide all possible legal and organizational help in future also. She told the media that she is coordinating with lawyers in all affected states and ensuring that every protestor detained or targeted gets immediate legal help.
After this, Saurav Das announced the launch of Sakshi platform on the website of ‘Cockroach Janata Party’ www.cockroachjantaparty.org. This platform has been created for the protesters who took part in the ‘Chalo Sansad March’ on July 20 to safely upload photos and videos of the incidents of police brutality and excesses they faced. A tutorial explaining in detail the use of this platform has also been made available on the website.
Saurav Das appealed to all the protesters to read the instructions carefully and upload all the necessary visual evidence related to the police violence that took place during and after the July 20 protests. He again said that immediately after the events of July 20, the CJP leadership had publicly announced that every police officer and RAF jawan responsible for unlawful violence against peaceful students would be individually identified, whether they aimed at the heads of students, caused serious injuries, broke bones, used pellet guns or committed any kind of brutality.
He said that appropriate complaints will be lodged, action will be taken on FIR and if necessary, legal proceedings will be initiated in competent courts. He said that with the support and guidance of Dr. Kapil Sibal and the legal network being built across the country, the party is committed to ensuring that accountability is held and justice is delivered.
In the last part of the press conference, spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka informed the media about the third round of talks between the CJP delegation and BJP national president JP Nadda and Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh. Ranka reminded that during these discussions the government had agreed that all FIRs and punitive action initiated against peaceful protesters – not just in Delhi but in all BJP and NDA ruled states – would be withdrawn and no further action would be taken against them.
He reminded the government that it had promised to give a written guarantee in this regard by Tuesday (today). Ranka said the Cockroach Janata Party had withdrawn its month-long protest in good faith with the clear understanding that the Government of India would honor the assurances given during the third round of talks and reiterated publicly later.
He warned that if the government fails to give the promised written assurance by Tuesday or continues to allow arbitrary detention, arrest and harassment of students and protesters across the country and does not withdraw the FIR, the Cockroach Janata Party will be forced to resume its peaceful protests.
Cockroach Janata Party urged the Government of India to honor every promise made during the talks and subsequent public announcements. The government has until today to fulfill its promises, provide the promised written guarantees and immediately ensure that any form of harassment against peaceful protesters across the country ceases.
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