Beyond the Paper Leaks: Decoding the Wider Discontent in New Delhi

When a government shows a willingness to listen and engage with legitimate concerns, civil society groups typically conduct their issue-driven demonstrations in an orderly manner. The events witnessed in Delhi on July 20, however, were entirely preventable: predominantly young protesters were pursued, subjected to tear gas, and hit with batons in full view of the new Parliament building; some were reportedly struck by pellet guns, while mobile internet services were cut off and Metro stations were closed throughout the vicinity. The demonstration organised by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) only escalated following the police’s use of force. Had the central government initiated dialogue with the demonstrators earlier, including activist Sonam Wangchuk, who had been on an indefinite hunger strike and was forcibly hospitalised two days prior, the confrontation could have been avoided. A meeting was eventually granted through Union Minister J.P. Nadda, but only after thousands had already gathered at Parliament’s entrance. It was too little, too late. The fact that a movement originating as online satire could amass millions of digital followers and draw thousands onto the streets speaks volumes about the government’s track record, which has become the source of numerous complaints. Recurring instances of question paper leaks in entrance examinations, the re-conducting of the NEET exam, and disagreements over the three-language formula have fostered serious apprehensions that higher education is being managed by the government without proper accountability. Nevertheless, it would be incorrect to assume that this anger pertains solely to examinations. Increasingly, these protests have coalesced into a broader dissatisfaction regarding unemployment, stagnant wages, and escalating prices that burden young people nationwide. The intensity of these demonstrations also largely stems from the Narendra Modi-led BJP government’s reluctance to address genuine civil society grievances, except when an election is approaching. Policy adjustments over the past 12-plus years have consistently been timed to coincide with ballots rather than parliamentary sessions or public unrest, even as narrow victories in Assembly and parliamentary elections are interpreted as sweeping mandates and justification for an increasingly authoritarian style of governance. These protests, which have garnered support beyond Delhi, echo Sri Lanka’s Aragalaya movement, Nepal’s Gen Z uprising, and Bangladesh’s student rebellion against authoritarian rule, although their scope and demands are considerably narrower. This should not tempt the government to simply wait for them to fizzle out. Instead of making necessary corrections, it has opted to frame the protests as a political contest with the Congress-led Opposition and to divert attention from its failures using proxies in civil society and the media. This approach is counterproductive, as it will only deepen youth disillusionment with the democratic system itself. An immediate measure is imperative: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan must accept responsibility for the failures under his purview and resign. The alternative is an ignominious dismissal.