Now that the protests at Jantar Mantar are over, they leave behind questions that deserve serious reflection.
What began in the name of students ended up revealing something far more troubling. Videos that circulated from the protest appeared to show slogans calling for the restoration of Article 370, demands for “Azad Kashmir”, abuse directed at Hindu deities, the sexualisation of women, and calls for the release of those accused in the Delhi riots. If these videos accurately reflect what transpired, then the movement had clearly strayed far from the legitimate concerns of students.
Student grievances in a democracy should always be heard with empathy and addressed through dialogue. But no cause is strengthened when a protest becomes a platform for divisive, abusive, or extremist messaging. Such rhetoric does not advance education or reform; it erodes the very civic values that make democratic dissent meaningful.
Perhaps the most unsettling aspect was not merely the slogans, but the culture on display. The casual normalisation of abuse, vulgarity, performative outrage, and crass assertions in the name of being “progressive” should concern all of us. It raises uncomfortable questions about the values being absorbed by a section of our younger generation and what this means for families, our schools and universities, and society at large. The family remains the smallest and most important social unit, and when civility, respect, and responsibility begin to erode there, the consequences inevitably spill into the public sphere.
The Jantar Mantar protests may have ended, but they offered a glimpse into a deeper and more worrying trend: the steady lowering of standards for what is considered acceptable social behaviour in public life. That is something India must reflect upon collectively, irrespective of political affiliation.
If someone reposts a single tweet by PM Modi or praises him even once, they're instantly branded a "Modi Bhakt" or "BJP IT Cell" for life.
But when Abhijeet Dipke, a former AAP social media team member and Manish Sisodia's assistant or Ashutosh Ranka, former AAP Rajasthan spokesperson, speak, they're conveniently projected as "neutral student voices" with no political affiliation.
That's how the ecosystem works.
An ever-growing number of law-abiding, India-loving, working-class citizens who were once outraged by this kind of anarchy no longer feel anger. On the contrary, there's just calm.
They’ve accepted that the only option is to work hard and leave the country or, if they can't, work hard enough to ensure their children at least have the option to leave. Videos like this only strengthen their silent resolve.
Nothing is more important than the welfare and future of our youth!
We have decided to set up fast-track courts to ensure swift and stringent punishment for those involved in paper leaks. Have directed the concerned authorities and officials to take all necessary steps in this regard. This continues our series of steps for safeguarding the interests of students.
Those who try to harm the future of our youth will not be spared.
देश के युवाओं का हित और उनका भविष्य हमारी सर्वोच्च प्राथमिकता है।
पेपर लीक के सभी मामलों में दोषियों को जल्द से जल्द कठोर दंड देने के लिए, केस के त्वरित निस्तारण के लिए फास्ट ट्रैक कोर्ट्स का गठन किया जाएगा। इस संबंध में निर्देश दे दिए गए हैं कि संबंधित विभाग आवश्यक कार्रवाई सुनिश्चित करें।
विद्यार्थियों के हितों को सुरक्षित करने के लिए, सरकार द्वारा लिए जा रहे निर्णयों की श्रृंखला में ये एक महत्वपूर्ण कदम है।
युवाओं के भविष्य के साथ खिलवाड़ करने वाले किसी भी व्यक्ति को बख्शा नहीं जाएगा।
@RanaAyyub Ouch! Spanish conquest of Muslim-ruled territories in the Iberian Peninsula (known as the Reconquista, which ended in 1492), many Muslims were killed..
Every day, they get a new father.
First Iran then Egypt, then Morocco, then Mbappé, and now Yamal Nasraoui.
They know nothing about the players or the game. They only care about a player’s religion and whether they support the Palestinian flag.
How Bhindrawale’s goons abducted young women, raped em inside GoldenTemple complex, buried their bodies under AkalTakht.
PS: 2yrs ago I’d found a doc who was taken to perform abortions of such women —gave doc’s contact to @BDUTT. Guess doc still terrified.