Former Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan began his political career as an ABVP leader, who led a protest in 1977 against an exam paper leak in Odisha during which he was severely injured following a police lathi-charge. He suffered multiple fractures and had to be hospitalised. (At that time, the police used real lathis and not the present-day plastic pipes.) He has been hurt again during an agitation against paper leaks, but in a different way – being forced to resign so that a major confrontation between the Jantar Mantar cockroaches and the police could be averted.
It may be noted that, although the so-called Gen Z ran a successful campaign with corporate like skills by promoting and planning an event in numerous ways, it played dangerously with the lives of all those summoned to the protest. One may only recall incidents like the one in Rampur Tiraha, where the then Mulayam Singh Government ordered firing on agitationists who were going to a protest in Delhi in support of a separate Uttarakhand. Seven persons died and women were ill-treated. Similarly, in 2017, following the conviction of Gurmeet Ram Rahim, over 30 persons were killed and hundreds injured in Panchkula when police fired to control thousands of violent protestors. It may be noted that, during Modi’s tenure as PM, the Union Government has refrained from taking such action and chosen to retreat, tactically, to prevent escalation of situations. The farmers’ protest during 2020-21 against farm laws is one such example.
Given the recent developments, there are many lessons to be learned. And actions to be taken. The police and administration have to work out better methods to prevent such dangerous stand-offs that can cause the deaths of many, mostly innocent persons. The Jantar Mantar protest attracted people who treated it as public fair and even took their children along. There was free food and entertainment. Followers of radical ideologies that no longer have support among the general public landed up there to support the anti-Modi narrative. Certain sections of the youth brought disgrace to Gen Z with their obscene behaviour and language. The government needs to learn how to deal with the various elements that went into the protest, and upgrade its intelligence agencies. Also, even though the leaders of the agitation are seeking a carte blanche for ‘all’ protestors, the dangerous, anti-national and anti-social ones should be identified and dealt with at the right time. Similarly, action – already initiated – should build upon the suggestions offered by the more sincere protestors for the good of all.
