Union Minister J.P. Nadda on Tuesday, 1 September welcomed the Cockroach Janata Party's (CJP) decision to call off its planned September 5 protest march in New Delhi, affirming that the government will fulfil the assurances it had given to student agitators. The announcement followed a Supreme Court directive quashing FIRs against student protesters across multiple states.

Supreme Court Quashes Student FIRs

The Supreme Court on Tuesday quashed FIRs registered against student protesters in Delhi, Bihar, Maharashtra, West Bengal, and Assam, linked to protests held between 20 and 25 July. The Court further directed that similar cases registered elsewhere in the country will not be pursued or investigated, giving the order nationwide legal force.

What the Government Promised

Addressing a press conference, Nadda recalled that on 25 July 2026, he and his cabinet colleague Dr Jitendra Singh had held talks with student representatives at Jantar Mantar. 'On behalf of the Government of India, we assured them that the cases registered against the protesting students would be withdrawn and that no strict action would be taken against them in future,' Nadda said.

He added that the matter had also been discussed with governments in BJP-ruled states, and that the government stands by its commitment. 'The growth and development of the youth is the biggest priority of the government,' he asserted.

CJP's Decision to Stand Down

The CJP had originally announced a protest march from India Gate to the New Delhi Police Headquarters, alleging that the Centre had failed to honour the commitments made on 25 July following the withdrawal of nationwide youth protests. The party's chief spokesperson Saurav Das said the outfit could not have let students' futures be affected for their participation in the agitation.

Das also confirmed that the CJP had urged the government to state before the Supreme Court that compensation promised to families of students who died by suicide due to the NEET paper leak would be paid within 90 days, 'in an honourable amount.' The government gave this assurance in court, and the Court incorporated it into its order, granting it judicial sanctity. According to Das, the funds will be credited directly to the families' bank accounts.

Background: The NEET Protests and July 25 Talks

The protests, which swept several states between 20 and 25 July, were driven by student anger over the NEET paper leak and demands for accountability. The government's July talks at Jantar Mantar had produced verbal assurances, but the CJP had contended those commitments were not being acted upon — prompting the now-withdrawn September 5 march.

With the Supreme Court's order now providing judicial backing to the government's assurances, and the CJP standing down its march, the immediate flashpoint appears to have been defused. Whether the Centre delivers on compensation timelines and FIR withdrawals across all states will determine if the truce holds.