"We Will Not Tolerate the Divide and Rule Policy of the Fascist Regime Anymore" Say the Youth at Yuva Hunkar Rally

The participants of an impressively attended Yuva Hunkar Rally, addressed by Gujarat MLA and Dalit leader Jignesh Mevani and Assam RTI and farmers’ rights activist Akhil Gogoi among others, equivocally said their participation is aimed at registering a strong protest against “the politics of hate” and to support the cause of social and gender justice.

The rally, which was organised at Parliament Street, was attended by a large number of youths from across the country. The participants were seen holding placards and condemning the incidents of mob lynchings, political arrests, the slapping of National Security Act (NSA) to “curb the voices of dissent”, the violence at Bhima-Koregaon and the “draconian” policies of the Narendra Modi-led BJP governments in the Centre and several states.

“I am neither associated with any political party, nor their students’ wings. I have come here to support a larger cause – which is the demand for social justice and gender justice. Everyone knows what is happening in the country with Dalits, Adivasis (tribals) and minority communities. There is an atmosphere of fear. But enough is enough. We the youth of the country want to tell the fascist regime that we will not tolerate your divide and rule policy anymore,” 22-year-old Varsha, a Delhi resident, told Newsclick.

She said Prime Minister Narendra Modi always talks about the New India and Young India, but his government does not have any agenda for the youths of the country. “During the three years of Modi’s rule, the picture on the employment front falls far short of the electrifying promises he made, particularly to the youth of India whose aspirations he echoed so eloquently and confidently, during his election campaign. In fact, the majority of the promises he made have so far proved to be mere lip service. The bogey of ‘love jihad’ has reared its ugly head, people are being mercilessly killed in the name of cow ‘protection’ and instead of addressing the real issues faced by the people, the government is trying to over-criminalise the instant triple talaq to populate prisons – which is already crowded with Dalits, minorities and other marginalised sections – with Muslim men,” she said.

Juhed Johny, who had come from all the way from Assam to be part of the “historic” event, said despite earning the postgraduate degree in different streams, the youths of the country are “not getting even minimum wage” and nobody appears to be “bothered”.

“Employment is a major issue these days. We are not getting the returns of what our parents have invested in our studies. Unfortunately, the government is least bothered. Inequality is on the rise. In my state, Assam, Bengali Muslims are discriminated. They are harassed with racial and religious profiling. Their names are excluded from the National Register of Citizens (NRC that contains the names of Indian citizens living in Assam),” he alleged.

He added that the time has come to show assertion against the regime.

Priyesh Pandey, a student of the Banaras Hindu University (BHU), said he came to the national capital to take part in the rally with the hope that public discourse will change and the issues of people such as employment, justice and insecurity will take centre stage.

“It is disappointing,” he said, “that even the Opposition has failed to raise and bring these issues into the mainstream. And therefore, the university campuses are playing the role of the Opposition. With the emergence of youth leadership that consists of people like Jignesh Mevani, Akhil Gogoi and others, the fight of oppressed and students will go to the assemblies and Parliament,” he hoped.

Srijani, a Delhi University student from Kolkata, said, “We are here to raise the voice against the atrocities being done against Dalits and Muslims in the country. We are here to ensure that our voices are heard before it is too late. We are students and it is our collective responsibility to become the voice of the voiceless. Otherwise, whatever we learn from books will be an idealism,” she told Newsclick holding a placard that asked the government to repeal the “draconian laws like NSA and UAPA”

She said she is quite hopeful with the youth leadership that has come to the fore in the form of Jignesh and others.

Jiash Ahmad, a student of mechanical engineering at Jamia Millia Islamia, has a problem with the media. “Stupid issues like ‘love jihad’, ‘ghar wapsi’ and the much-hyped issue of triple talaq are discussed in the newsroom every day. But the entire media chose to remain silent on the real issues faced by people,” he said.

Attacking Prime Minister Modi for allegedly being “soft” on the right-wing religious fanatics, he said, “Modiji frequently tweets on different developments. But he ignored the brutal killing of Afrazul (who was hacked and burnt to death at Rajsamad in Rajasthan recently). We were expecting his tweet on the incident with a stern warning to such criminals, but he left us disappointed by keeping mum,” he added.

Vikas, a final year law student from Rohtak in Haryana, said, “This is not the time to remain silent. This is the time to struggle and raise voices without a fear against all oppression, rising above caste, creed and religion. We must speak against the fascist regime. The country should now move forward on the agenda of social justice, not on the idea of Modi’s New India.”

He said now the government and politicians will have to talk about farm crisis, rising unemployment, rampant injustice and excesses in the country.

He warned the government to take them seriously and accept their demands of releasing all the political prisoners like Chandra Shekhar Azad of the Bheem Army, Professor GN Saibaba, JNU student Hem Mishra and others without delay.

“Modiji, if you don’t pay heed to our demands, you and your police will not be able to control our resetment,” he added.

Rajweer Kaur, who is pursuing M.Phil in Punjabi from the DU, asked why the BJP and its leaders, who keep saying that ‘students should focus on studies and avoid doing politics’, are afraid of students. “We are living in a democratic country where everyone has the right to take parts in politics. Our universities have given the country a number of leaders. Since the BJP does not want a polity having thinking minds who can raise the issues of people trashing the right-wing agenda, therefore they keep advising students not to take interest in politics. But the youth of the country have rejected the idea and have come to streets,” she added.

Two media channels – Republic TV and Zee News – faced people’s wrath. The participants chanted slogans against them.