NEW DELHI: Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) chief spokesperson Saurav Das on Monday said the Supreme Court had clarified that its order would not prevent states from withdrawing FIRs registered against student protesters.Das said the clarification came amid reports of fresh FIRs and arrests of students in some BJP- and NDA-ruled states, despite assurances given to protesters following their July 25 agreement with the government.“As you all know, after the historic victory of the youth on July 25, the government gave us certain guarantees under the agreement. One of them was that all existing FIRs against student protesters would be withdrawn and that there would be a written assurance that no action would be taken against any protester in the future,” Das said.He alleged that CJP subsequently received reports of students being detained and arrested and new FIRs being registered in some states, news agency PTI reported.“After that, we received several reports that FIRs were being filed and students were being detained and arrested in some BJP-ruled and NDA-ruled states,” he said.Das said the CJP had supported protesters with legal and medical assistance from the beginning and would continue to do so.“CJP has stood with these students from day one. Even before the agreement, we provided legal and medical assistance to the protesters, and we will continue to do so in the future,” he said.The statement comes days after the CJP said the Centre had assured protesters that FIRs against students in Bihar and Assam would be withdrawn following late-night talks.According to the organisation, the agreement also included an assurance that no fresh criminal action would be taken against protesters in connection with the agitation.Das said Monday’s Supreme Court clarification would allow states to proceed with withdrawal of FIRs if they choose to do so.“Today, the Supreme Court clarified that states that wish to withdraw FIRs are free to do so and that the Supreme Court’s order will not stand in the way,” he said.The CJP has been demanding withdrawal of cases against students who participated in protests over alleged irregularities in the NEET examination process.
