• Ram Puniyani

We all know about the recent massive protest by the nascent Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. Uniformed police and unidentified individuals lathi-charged young people in Delhi and other places, and used pellet guns and even AK-47 rifles in Bihar. All of this was completely against democratic values and democratic practices. Another aspect of the protest was the young people dancing and singing, making posters together, and laughing together. It reminds us of Karl Marx’s famous saying that “a revolution is a festival of the masses.” However, the background and nature of the protests at Jantar Mantar and in other parts of the country were completely different from any revolution.

The authoritarian BJP government led by Narendra Modi, which had paid no attention to the legitimate demands of the people, finally relented after a long time. This happened solely because the protests were spreading across the country and the fear of the government was melting away. We have seen before that the government remained deaf to the farmers’ protest for 12 months and withdrew the three draconian farm laws only as elections approached. And, of course, the government encouraged anti-social elements to disrupt the anti-CAA protests at Shaheen Bagh. Initially, the government also tended to ignore the periodic protests against paper leaks.

This time, the situation was different. The government tried to ignore the movement but was ultimately forced to accept the CJP’s demands, including the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Prahlad Joshi, who replaced Pradhan, too, has a Sanghi background. His character can be gauged from the fact that he supported the release of those convicted of raping Bilkis Bano.

A committee has been formed to examine the issue of paper leaks and to suggest steps to prevent them. Interestingly, according to Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi, this committee includes a gentleman who is an expert on cow urine and several others who know nothing about the education system.

While student leaders are busy ensuring that the government fulfills its written assurances, it is important to understand the “success” of this movement. It was nowhere near the 1968 student movement in France, or the student uprisings in our neighbouring countries like Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, or Nepal. Nevertheless, it succeeded in significantly altering the perceptions created by the BJP’s IT cell. It also somewhat reduced the impact of the propaganda spread by the ‘Godi media’ and the Sangh Parivar through its shakhas, thousands of schools, and other affiliated organisations. The courage to speak out boldly against the government may gradually return to the people.

While the Cockroach Janta Party and its leader Abhijit Dipke were at the centre of this protest, its foundation had been laid over several years. Rising unemployment, the ever-increasing cost of living, and growing deprivation fuelled this movement. India’s steady decline in indices of freedom of expression, religious freedom, hunger, and happiness may have been dismissed by the government, but it reflected the deteriorating condition of society.

The mainstream media has limited its role to praising those in power and criticising the opposition. The extent of the decline of democracy’s fourth pillar is evident from the fact that people booed ‘Godi media’ journalists during the protests. While this was not justifiable in any way, it shows the negative image that ‘Godi media’ has created for itself. In such an environment, the enthusiasm of the youth in fighting restrictions on democratic freedoms is a cause for great joy.

Has this movement fully achieved its goal? The answer depends on the definition of “fully.” While the change of education minister has significantly dented the ego of the “non-biological” Prime Minister, it will not bring about any major change, as Nagnath has been replaced by Saampnath. The root cause of paper leaks – corruption in society – has remained untouched. Corruption can only be tackled by implementing a more transparent and socially auditable system. The RSS played a key role in shaping the Anna Hazare movement on the issue of corruption, which later led to the formation of the Aam Aadmi Party to challenge the Congress. Yet the NDA governments took no steps to eradicate corruption. Those in power now seem little concerned about the phenomenon. Vast sums of money spent on the construction of roads and bridges during the current regime were washed away by rain and floods.

It must be acknowledged that Rahul Gandhi played a crucial role in laying the groundwork for whatever success was achieved. He exposed the government’s neglectful attitude towards social issues. It is difficult to say whether the movement at Jantar Mantar has reduced the religion-based polarisation perpetrated by the RSS-BJP. What is wrong with our system can only be understood through a comprehensive analysis. Will this movement be able to stay away from electoral politics for long and raise the core issue of how communal forces have led the country away from the path of peace and progress? The India envisioned during the freedom struggle and enshrined in our Constitution has been cunningly sidelined in favour of the idea of a Hindu Rashtra. The issue of nation-building has been replaced by the demolition of mosques, madrasas and other educational institutions. State power is gradually being infiltrated by those who have received divisive training in RSS shakhas or who thrive with the help of ‘Godi media’ and the BJP’s IT cell, often referred to as WhatsApp University.

This protest was like a breath of fresh air. What is needed now is to continue this journey and to identify ourselves once again as Indian citizens rather than as Hindus or Muslims. This country belongs to those who live in it – to all who live in it. Communal politics, on the other hand, emphasizes the creation of a Hindu nation based on the Manusmriti. Its entire agenda is to impose Brahminical values under which Muslims, Christians, tribals, Dalits, workers, and women will be second-class citizens.

At present, there is an atmosphere of enthusiasm and joy due to the success of the protest movement. It would be a mistake to assume that it has achieved all its goals. Until we completely defeat the communal forces, or at least significantly weaken their power, the current rulers will continue to inflict various injustices upon us. We applaud and salute the youth and students and hope that in the future, too, they will effectively confront the challenge of this indirect attack on the Constitution.

The author is President of the Centre for Study of Society and Secularism.