The Cockroach Janta Party protest, going on in Delhi, against NEET paper leak has taken a violent turn this week. The protesters have repeatedly targeted Police personnel during the past 3 days. Stone pelting has become the new normal at the protest. It makes one wonder, whether it is a genuine student protest or something else?
A protest is a democratic right, we are all free to protest in a free country like India but is violence the way? We have all been students, most of us have appeared for these competitive exams, will any serious student resort to violence?
Students facing problems such as examination irregularities, paper leaks, and uncertainty over their future have every reason to raise their voices. But there is an important question that must now be asked- If the movement is genuinely led by serious students, who are the people repeatedly turning parts of the Cockroach Janta Party protest into scenes of violence?
The question becomes even more relevant after a series of clashes in Delhi. What began as a youth-led campaign has, in recent days, witnessed confrontations between protesters and security personnel. Reports of stone-pelting, and attacks on police personnel have raised serious concerns about the presence of disruptive elements within the demonstrations.
In one particularly disturbing incident, a Rapid Action Force personnel was allegedly attacked with a sword during clashes in Connaught Place, prompting the registration of an FIR. In another confrontation at Jantar Mantar, protesters allegedly pelted stones at Police, leaving six personnel injured, including two officers of Assistant Commissioner of Police rank.
These incidents raise a fundamental question about the character of the protest. A serious student protesting against an examination system does not need to attack a policeman. A young person demanding accountability does not need to throw stones. And someone seeking justice for students does not strengthen that cause by creating law-and-order problems.
This does not mean every person participating in the protest is violent. Nor does it mean that legitimate grievances should be dismissed because some individuals allegedly resorted to violence. In fact, peaceful protesters should publicly distance themselves from such acts and demand that those responsible be identified and prosecuted.
The bigger concern is whether political actors, opportunists or fringe groups are exploiting students for their own purposes. Whenever a peaceful movement gains momentum, there is always a possibility that elements with different motives may enter the crowd and hijack the narrative.
The Cockroach Janta Party protest therefore faces a credibility test. If its leadership genuinely represents serious students, it must unequivocally condemn violence, cooperate with investigations and ensure that peaceful protest remains peaceful.
Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke is surprisingly always absent when violence breaks out during their protest. Will he take responsibility for unleashing a beast he can’t control? Doesn’t look like it but let us see.
