Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protests in Delhi intensified on Wednesday with DMRC shutting 16 metro stations and Supreme Court rejecting urgent hearing of a plea against police against on youth protestors. The agitation, initiated against the NEET examination paper leak case, has also led to numerous FIRs being filed by the Delhi Police over alleged violence during CJP's "Sansad Chalo" march on Monday.
Security has been heightened across the national capital to prevent student uprising amid the ongoing protests at Jantar Mantar. CJP spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka warned of a larger protest if the Centre did not accept the party's demands, claiming the July 20 protest march was "just a trailer" and that "millions more" would come to Delhi if the government failed to act.
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Track latest updates on the ongoing CJP protests in Delhi:
CJP declines Nadda meet at his residence
The youth-led party 'categorically' declined government's invitation to meet Union Health Minister JP Nadda.
- CJP said that the government should now come to the protest site at Jantar Mantar.
- CJP Chief Spokesperson Saurav Das said that the police reached out to them again to inform that BJP national president JP Nadda wanted to speak with them on Wednesday morning.
- 'They invited us to his residence, but we categorically declined. We are not going to anyone's house or office,' he said.
Dharmendra Pradhan meets Om Birla
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan met Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Wednesday. The update came soon after the government agreed to a detailed discussion in the Lok Sabha on the alleged NEET paper leak.
According to officials cited by PTI, Pradhan met Birla in the Parliament premises after the MPs urged Speaker Birla to convene an all-party meeting to decide the rule, date and duration of the debate.
Also read: SC declines urgent plea challenging police action; CJI says 'don't have time to watch videos'
Supreme Court declines urgent plea against police action
The Supreme Court declined a plea for urgent listing of a plea challenging the police action against students during the Cockroach Janta Party-led protest march in Delhi.
- SC declined urgent hearing of plea against police action during CJP protests in Delhi on Monday.
- Matter mentioned before a bench comprising CJI Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana.
- Lawyer said, "I have the videos as well regarding police brutality... If it can be listed tomorrow (Thursday)... students are there." He added that students had allegedly been subjected to police brutality during the protest and said the petition contained three prayers.
The CJI declined the lawyers' request, further clarifying that the bench was not inclined to examine video footage at the mentioning stage. "We are not interested in videos, we don't have time to watch... We don't want to watch videos," the CJI said.
DMRC shuts 16 Delhi Metro Stations
The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) announced closure of 16 metro stations across Delhi, citing security reasons in the national capital.
- Lok Kalyan Marg, Rajiv Chowk, Patel Chowk, Ramakrishna Ashram Marg, Barakhamba Road, Supreme Court, Seva Teerth, Janpath, Mandi House, Central Secretariat, ITO, Delhi Gate, Indraprastha, Khan Market, Jor Bagh and Shivaji Stadium metro stations have been closed till further instructions.
- The Delhi metro authority said that the interchange facility remains available at Rajiv Chowk, Mandi House and Central Secretariat.
CJP warns of bigger protests
Cockroach Janta Party national spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka warned of a larger protest if the government did not accept the youth-led party's demands.
- He claimed that the July 20 protest march was "just a trailer" and that millions more would come to Delhi if the government failed to act.
- Speaking to ANI, he described the ongoing agitation as the biggest movement in India's post-independence history.
- Ranka alleged that the July 20 march was peaceful until police used force against protesters.
- He FURTHER claimed students were assaulted during the march and said the protesters had been holding a peaceful sit-in for the past 31 days.
CJP spokesperson Ranka also reiterated the party's demand that no FIRs, including any future cases, be lodged against protesters, saying the agitation would not end unless the demand was met.
