Tridib Raman
If the spirited movement led by Generation Z, or simply the youth of the country, has acquired a new face, much of the credit goes to the internet. Gen Z is unlike any previous generation. It is the first generation to have grown up alongside the internet. If television news channels perceived as aligned with the establishment and the BJP’s traditional IT cell failed to counter this Gen Z movement effectively, the principal reason lies in this generation’s deep affinity with the digital world. This generation has absorbed the immense power, reach, and utility of the internet into its very character. Perhaps it was the pressure exerted by this generation that prompted Prime Minister Narendra Modi to make his first address on the issue at midnight through Instagram, in selfie mode. This generation cannot be controlled in the same manner as conventional media. Short-form videos and reels have become its most powerful instrument of expression. When some BJP leaders remarked dismissively that “the girls shouting slogans today at Jantar Mantar will soon be seen shopping for matching lipsticks,” Gen Z responded emphatically that “they are capable of pursuing both love and revolution simultaneously.” The government and its strategists, it appears, underestimated both Gen Z and Generation Alpha. They perhaps failed to appreciate that the thinking and methods of these generations differ significantly from those of Millennials and Baby Boomers. Through this movement, these young people have demonstrated their clarity of thought, fearlessness, and collective strength to both society and the establishment. According to the author, this mounting pressure ultimately compelled Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to submit his resignation to the Prime Minister.
Where Did the Government Go Wrong?
The central government relied unquestioningly on intelligence assessments that repeatedly suggested the movement would be short-lived. These reports reportedly argued that the protests lacked organisational structure, had been infiltrated by Left and Ambedkarite groups, and therefore would not sustain themselves. However, what began as a protest against alleged irregularities in the NEET examination rapidly transcended geographical boundaries. The spark that originated at Jantar Mantar spread across India, and demonstrations of solidarity emerged in countries including Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States. As the movement gathered momentum, four senior journalists from different print and digital media organisations met one of the Union government’s most powerful ministers. According to the author, they were surprised by the minister’s dismissive attitude. The minister reportedly remarked that many such movements had occurred before and eventually fizzled out. He is also quoted as saying there was no question of the Education Minister resigning because action had already been taken against officials of the National Testing Agency (NTA) found responsible for irregularities. The author further claims that the minister believed the police had initially been too lenient with protesters at Jantar Mantar and that stronger measures became necessary. The subsequent conduct of the police, the author argues, was then visible to the entire country.
Inexperience of the new Police Commissioner
1994-batch IPS Anurag Kumar was hurriedly given charge of Delhi Police in place of Satish Golcha just before the start of Parliament’s monsoon session, with the intention that he would soon make the protesters pack up and leave from Jantar Mantar. Although Satish Golcha’s tenure was till April 2027, he was also considered a great favourite of the BJP top leadership, because even though he was born in Punjab, he spent his entire time in Surat, that is, in Gujarat. But now charges of inexperience are being levelled against Anurag Kumar. It is being said that he has limited field experience. He was DCP of North Delhi in 2005, after which he remained decorated in the IB office for a full 20-21 years, from where he was pulled out and directly made the new head of Delhi Police. It will be considered a failure of his leadership that the Delhi Police personnel, both in uniform and without uniform, went so out of control at Jantar Mantar and mercilessly beat up the student boys and girls who were protesting peacefully, to the extent that the policemen even openly harassed the protesting girl students. Due to this barbaric police action, the movement started getting even wider public support across the country. It is also being said that the policemen themselves were troubled by the behaviour of some of their officers and their Tughlaqi orders. Is this the reason that several videos of police excesses came out from the cameras of the policemen themselves and went viral? Considering the sensitivity of the matter, Delhi Police has now entrusted the responsibility of dialogue with the protesting students to its 1996-batch IPS officer Ajay Chaudhary, who is Special Commissioner (Vigilance). Ajay Chaudhary, who is a Yadav by caste, also has good relations with several opposition leaders.
Is Sonam unfaithful or not!
Social activist Sonam Wangchuk ended his hunger strike at 12:30 a.m. on the midnight of 24 July at the hands of Union Ministers JP Nadda and Dr. Jitendra Singh. Continuous questions have been raised about the manner in which he did this: why on earth did he not wait until morning? He could have ended his hunger strike in the presence of the injured students, then on whose advice did he put the demand for Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation into cold storage? This question becomes especially relevant at this time when it emerges that Sonam’s brother Gyal P. Wangyal is associated with the BJP and the Sangh. He has also served as vice-president of the BJP unit in Leh. It should be noted that when Sonam broke his hunger strike at Medanta Hospital, members of the ‘Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council’ were also present there. The government had summoned these members there in the morning itself; Sonam was probably not aware of this. It is said that on the government’s persuasion, the Hill Council members tried to persuade Sonam that “enough has happened here; now you fight the battle for Ladakh.” According to sources, the Hill Council is putting heavy pressure on the central government for special state status for Ladakh. If that happens, Sonam Wangchuk could become the new head there, because he ranks among the big faces of Ladakh. Sources say that after breaking the hunger strike, both ministers arranged a video call for Sonam with the PM. It is said that the PM told Sonam: “Now you should not remain limited only to Ladakh; contest the 29 Lok Sabha elections and come to Delhi, we want to see you at the Centre.”
Sonam’s Wife’s Odisha Connection!
Sonam Wangchuk’s wife Gitanjali Angmo is said to be the biggest link between the BJP and Sonam. Before marrying Sonam, Gitanjali was a resident of Balasore in Odisha; her maternal home is there. She belongs to a Punjabi-Jain family. It is also said that Gitanjali was the one who first introduced Sonam to Dharmendra Pradhan. Perhaps this is why Sonam had openly sung praises in support of the government’s new education policy. Continuous questions are now being raised: did Gitanjali and Sonam deliberately create an atmosphere so that the fallout of this entire movement would not touch the BJP top leadership and so that the Congress would also not be able to derive any benefit from this movement? It is still a puzzle why Gitanjali, after a fight, brought a High Court order to get Sonam shifted from Safdarjung Hospital to Medanta. Why was the list of Sonam’s demands continuously made as flexible as possible for ending the hunger strike, and why was the demand for Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation directly deleted from it? Why was there no comment against the BJP in Gitanjali’s statements, but political statements against Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi certainly were, and these statements received Sonam’s support. But it seems Sonam Wangchuk has also realised that the students’ movement is no longer within his or the “Cockroach Janata Party’s” fold; it has become much bigger than that. And the students’ movement has left him behind and moved far ahead, so in an effort to maintain his relevance he posted on Instagram this Saturday: “Do they need a character certificate to prove how genuine their hunger strike was?” The answer to this too will perhaps have to be found by Sonam within himself.
What is the Compulsion of the Sonam Couple?
If the claims of sources linked to the government are to be believed, another big favour may be showered on Sonam and Gitanjali in the coming days. In fact, Sonam and Gitanjali’s institute ‘Himalayan Institute of Alternative Ladakh’ does not have any official recognition from the UGC or AICTE. The matter of granting recognition to this institute has been discussed several times in Parliament as well. This matter has been pending with the UGC for many years. Sonam’s wife Dr. Gitanjali J. Angmo is the co-founder of this Himalayan institute; currently she is also its CEO and Dean. It should be noted that this institute was established in 2017. Another argument being given for Sonam becoming a camp-follower of the government is that in this monsoon session itself the central government is going to bring an FCRA law amendment bill to rein in NGOs operating on foreign funds. This new central bill could also adversely affect Sonam’s NGO running in Ladakh; perhaps that is why they have been forced to go down on their knees.
Salman’s 360° U-Turn
Bollywood star Salman Khan, who had become irrelevant in the news, suddenly hit the headlines on 23 July by issuing a post in support of the protesting students. In this 250-word post, Salman had expressed sorrow over the violence that occurred in the students’ movement. By then, several prominent faces from Bollywood and Hollywood had already extended support to this movement. But this step by Salman once again made him a hero among the youth. However, the very next day Salman turned 360 degrees. In his first post, where he was praising the efforts of the youth protesting for a better education system, in the next day’s post he appealed to the youth to abandon the movement and return home. Those who saw this post understood that this is not Salman’s style of writing a post; the draft had come to him from somewhere, and he had merely posted it. Now, since Salman has a new film ‘Matrubhoomi’ coming up, the youth trolled him a lot over this second post, even saying that “Salman has got scared.” Now, in his familiar style, Salman has made a third post -“Jo dar gaya, woh mar gaya”. But if Salman is truly not scared, then why is he calling the distributors of his film and asking them to push forward the release date of ‘Matrubhoomi’?
