The youth movement against mismanagement of NEET and other examinations has taught a lot of lessons to the ruling dispensation of India. It serves as a warning against irresponsible educational policies and endangering of the future of millions of students who enter the employment market every year. There have been scores of such cases during the last decade.
The youth don’t require only lollypops of sweet words and unfulfilled assurances. They have steadily experienced empty promises of strict action and fast-track legal procedure. The extremely frustrated youth joined hands, rushed to Jantar Mantar, and under the banner of loosely organised Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) started powerful protests. The Modi dispensation, which suffers from acute arrogance of power, never made any serious effort to sympathetically listen to the wronged students and frustrated youth. Instead it used brutal force of ill-trained police and goonda elements and unleashed violence against the protesters. But finally it had to bow to the just demands of the youth. It had to concede to the demand to oust Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan unceremoniously.
For the last 12 years Indian citizens are tolerating the atrocities and arrogant attitude of the government. Millions of farmers from the Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, who represent the entire farmer population of India, camped at the borders of the capital. They tolerated heat, cold and rain for about a year. No problem was solved. They sacrificed more than 700 fellow farmers. Scores of such instances have happened during the last 12 years long BJP misrule. There is all out failure on all fronts. Foreign policy is in shambles. India lost its respectable position in the comity of nations. On all human development rankings, we are losing our prestigious status. No nation came forward to support us on Operation Sindoor. The ‘great and dear friend’ Donald Trump continuously heaps disgrace on us. But we do not have courage to even object to him. Perhaps, the International Court of Justice indicated Netanyahu is India’s only friend in the world. The conscientious Indian citizens feel extremely frustrated on the situation. If things continue like this, the day is not far away when not only the Gen Z but the entire population will rise against the undemocratic and fascist policies of the Modi government.
The success of Gen Z has kindled fresh hopes in the national opposition ranks and the regional parties. They must act now. Otherwise India may move towards fascist, communal and authoritarian system. Fresh thinking and united struggle is the demand of the situation to save India from total destruction.