THE victory of the students and youth at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar has scripted a new chapter in the history of independent India. It gives a clear indication that this paves the way for the beginning of the end of the BJP-led authoritarian regime under Narendra Modi.

As Abhijeet Dipke, the founder of the Cockroach Janata Party, hinted in his victory speech, it was the Chief Justice of India’s remarks on May 15 likening unemployed youth to cockroaches that had led to a huge uproar which culminated in the creation of the CJP. The anger of the youth and students, which was initially reflected online, later spilled over onto the streets in the aftermath of the NEET paper leaks and the resultant unfortunate suicides of 22 students.

OVERCOMING STATE REPRESSION

The entire world saw how the Union Government used various methods to suppress this protest. Mobile and internet services were shut down in and around the venue of the protest. Students and youth who had flocked to Jantar Mantar in the thousands were brutally attacked by police personnel on the day of the Parliament march and the venue was ransacked. Cases were foisted against protesters even though violence was unleashed by the state. Unfazed, the protesters returned in large numbers the very next day, despite the restrictions that were imposed on travel in Central Delhi - especially the closure of Metro stations, and assembly at Jantar Mantar.

In fact, across the country and even in foreign countries, protests were organised by students’ and youth organisations in solidarity with the protest in Delhi. Medical and legal assistance for the protesters flowed in from all quarters. Water and food was delivered to the venue by concerned citizens and voluntary organisations. Organised students’ movements – like SFI, AISF and AISA – brought in support from all corners of the country. Spontaneous support was generated among the public through CJP’s online campaigns.

Ultimately this confluence of movements and people was able to bring the Union Government down to its knees and secure the resignation of the Union Education Minister. Although he finally had to bow down, let us not forget that the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, tried his best to protect Dharmendra Pradhan, under whom there has been widespread corruption and mismanagement in the nation’s education sector. This has certainly rekindled hope in the minds of all democratic and secular minded people that the authoritarian corporate communal nexus governing India today, can be defeated.

PROGRESSIVE STUDENTS’ ORGANISATIONS AND LEFT PARTIES

As far as the country’s education sector goes, the National Education Policy, 2020, needs to be fought tooth and nail. It is the fountain head from which the three Cs – centralisation, commercialisation and communalisation – flow. It is also paving the way for massive corruption and absolute mismanagement in the education sector. Therefore, SFI is organising protests all over India for education reforms. Leader of one such protest in Nalanda, Bihar, Kanti Kumari, SFI Bihar State President, and several of her comrades were in jail till yesterday. So, it was quite natural for the SFI to be a part of this agitation that demanded accountability.

Right from the beginning of this agitation, left progressive students’ organisations worked as a core group along with CJP in organising the protest. SFI All-India President, Adarsh Saji, and Joint Secretary, Aishe Ghosh, were on hunger strike along with Abhijeet Dipke. After the victory of the agitation, the support and guidance of SFI and other such students’ organisations was officially acknowledged by the CJP, who thanked them for the same. Ashutosh Ranka tweeted, “you guys really proved pivotal in this movement.”

The Union Education Minister’s resignation was only the first step. Now, cases foisted on the protesters have to be dropped, and action has to be taken against all police personnel who brutally attacked our students and youth. The families of the victims of the NEET fiasco have to be compensated. Ultimately, the NTA has to be disbanded and the NEP 2020 has to be rolled back as well. Taking forward the spirit of struggle, left progressive students’ organisations including the SFI are pressing on with these demands.

CPI(M) and the Left parties stood with the agitation right from the very beginning as we believe in a democratic, secular and scientific education that is accessible to all. We demanded that the students’ issue be discussed first in the Parliament. Our leaders and MPs visited them and extended support and solidarity even before it became a mass movement. Left intervention in the agitation was so pronounced that portals like The Wire and newspapers like the Times of India had to acknowledge the role we and the students’ organisations played in making it a success. Sonam Wangchuk’s hunger strike made a significant contribution in generating wider appeal in favour of the agitation. It is heartening that eminent personalities across various streams, including sports, arts, cinema and culture, also came out in support of this movement.

WAVES OF RESISTANCES

The biggest takeaway from this struggle is the loss of fear. The GenZ has shown that the time to be afraid and shun away from struggles is over. United struggles will be victorious, that is the other significant takeaway from this agitation. Five years back, the year-long legendary struggle of farmers and agricultural workers in which around 700 people were martyred, had also proved the same. The three farm laws which were undemocratically pushed through in Parliament, despite the Opposition’s stiff resistance, had to be recalled by the very same Parliament. This was the first instance of the ‘56 inch’ being forced to surrender to the will of the people, expressed through united struggles. The Union Education Minister’s resignation now, is the second instance.

Womens’ organisations are conducting struggles demanding the immediate implementation of women’s reservation in Parliament and the Legislative Assemblies. Spontaneous workers’ protests had erupted all across North India just a couple of months back. Prior to that, under the initiative of the CPI(M), Jan Aakrosh Jathas were conducted in 13 states across North India raising livelihood issues of the people. Just before that, Central Trade Unions had successfully conducted a General Strike which was supported by the Samyukt Kisan Morcha. In short, the country is witnessing waves of resistance in which women, workers, farmers, agricultural workers, students and youth are all coming up to oppose the RSS-BJP combine.

Now is the time to preserve the unity of all those who are in the path of struggle, to bring more organisations and social forces together in the path of struggle and to conduct focused movements to unseat the BJP wherever they are in power, in the union as well as in the states. The RSS and the BJP have started their timeworn tactic of dividing the people to break their unity. This time, they are bringing out the question of reservations to divide the student community. In the face of these devious tactics, the GenZ should stay vigilant, stand united and demand more seats and jobs as a solution for the lack of adequate opportunities. At the same time, a broad movement against the RSS is also required to detoxify Indian society, especially its educational and cultural spheres. Ultimately, the neo-fascists will be brought down to their knees by these new movements.

Red salute to all those who participated in and supported this legendary protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar and took it to all corners of the country!