The CJP claimed that the number of student suicides linked to examination-related issues had increased from 11 before the protest began to 29, though it did not provide supporting evidence for the figure.
The letter further alleged that instead of engaging with the protesters, senior members of the ruling establishment had sought to discredit the movement.
“Instead of an empathetic dialogue, your minister Dharmendra Pradhan has labeled us terrorists, and your party president has called us names, threatening that the youth of India will be ‘taught a lesson’ for daring to raise our voices against this broken, corrupt system and these preventable deaths,” it said.
Accusing the prime minister of maintaining a “resounding silence”, the CJP alleged that the Centre had responded to peaceful protesters with contempt rather than dialogue.
The organisation also alleged that Delhi Police personnel assaulted students at the protest site and threw books onto muddy roads. It demanded the immediate suspension of two police officers, alleging that books on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, B.R. Ambedkar and Bhagat Singh had been desecrated during the incident.
According to the letter, the alleged police action reflected a “disdain for knowledge itself” and raised questions over why students protesting for education reforms were not permitted to maintain a small library at the protest site.
The CJP urged the prime minister to engage with the protesters and “hold your minister Dharmendra Pradhan accountable”.
There was no immediate response from the Prime Minister’s Office, the Union Education Ministry or Delhi Police to the allegations made in the letter.
The protest, which began on 20 June over alleged irregularities in several competitive examinations, including NEET-UG, has received support from a number of Opposition leaders, activists and members of civil society.
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