We want withdrawal of FIRs, not just closure: CJP’s Saurav Das

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on Thursday welcomed the Delhi government’s notification directing that no further action be taken on FIRs filed in connection with its 36-day agitation, but said the cases should be formally withdrawn, warning that any dilution of the assurances given under the July 25 Jantar Mantar agreement could force students back onto the streets.

Speaking to PTI Videos, CJP chief spokesperson Saurav Das said the wording of the notification did not reflect what was promised by the government.

“The Delhi Government has released a notification which says that all the FIRs will not be pursued further and they may be treated as closed. We are not very happy with the term. The term that they should have used is that the FIRs will be withdrawn,” Das said.

Das said the order did not bar withdrawal of FIRs.

“The Government is saying that the Supreme Court has mandated that the FIRs proceed. But that’s a misreading and a misleading of the situation. Nowhere in the Supreme Court order has the Supreme Court said that the FIRs cannot be withdrawn. Those powers exist with the government,” he said.

He urged the Centre to honour the assurances given to protesters on July 25.

“The Government should not be using the Supreme Court order as a weapon to go against protesters. What was guaranteed before the entire nation on July 25, the Jantar Mantar agreement, the Government should come good on its promises and honour its words,” Das said.

“If it does not honour its words in letter and spirit, then the young generation of this country will never ever forgive them and will be forced to come back on the streets,” Das said.

Das said the Delhi government’s notification was a “positive development” but maintained that the commitments made to the protesters had to be implemented in full.

Woman booked for PM REMARKS

Noida (UP): A Zero FIR has been registered in Noida against a woman for allegedly using abusive language against Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, police said on Thursday.

The FIR was lodged at the Expressway police station on the complaint of Smriti Singh, a resident of Ghaziabad, against Ruchika Singh, a resident of Sector 168 in Noida.

According to the FIR, the complainant alleged that on July 23, the accused used “abusive and objectionable” language against the prime minister at Jantar Mantar, hurting the dignity of the constitutional office and with the intention of spreading hatred and disturbing public peace.

Based on the complaint, the police registered a case under Sections 352 (intentional insult to provoke breach of peace), 353(1) (statements conducing to public mischief) and 356(1) (defamation) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), officials said.