CJP protesters targeted after Pradhan's exit: Tracked, attacked, humiliated
Days after a video of right-wing activist Satyam Pandit assaulting two men who had joined the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protests in Delhi went viral
Days after a video of right-wing activist Satyam Pandit assaulting two men who had joined the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protests in Delhi went viral, several more similar clips have surfaced on social media. After the CJP-led protests culminated in Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation on Saturday, multiple videos of protesters facing backlash have emerged. People supporting the agitation have described the incidents as "punishment for protesting" and raised concerns over intimidation of demonstrators. However, people aligned with the BJP have mocked the protesters online and called for "strict action" against them. Several videos have emerged of protesters being assaulted. Read Full Story Even as the CJP-led protests gained momentum, some people highlighted that sections of the protesters crossed the line through abusive, vulgar and personal attacks on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the BJP and security personnel. Videos showing such slogans and confrontations circulated on social media and were amplified by pro-government voices as evidence that the movement lacked decorum and had been hijacked. At the same time, the CJP and its supporters maintained that these clips represented a section of participants who they called "anti-social" elements. They added that these should not overshadow the issue of examination irregularities. However, they backed the youngsters who used cuss words, suggesting that was part of the Gen Z lingo. Pro-BJP handles had begun circulating videos and images of youngsters who were using abusive language and raising anti-government slogans. FIND HER, SHE ABUSED PM MODI: X HANDLES GET HUNTING After the CJP called off its protests following the Centre's acceptance of its key demand, several social media accounts aligned with or sympathetic to the BJP have put out photos of some women and student protesters, and called for their arrests, tagging police departments in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh. "These girls must be living somewhere, in a building [or a] society, working somewhere or attending any college... Find them... Make their neighbours, colleagues [and] classmates know about their mentality and what they are doing...," a widely followed handle on X wrote. "Indian Political commentator. Foreign policy. Hindu Rights Activist. Proud Bhartiya. BJP member," mentions the handle's bio.
Similarly, another handle shared several videos of women criticising and abusing PM Modi, with captions like, "Find Her... She abused PM Modi... Put her behind bars to teach her a lesson..." The right to protest is a constitutional right, and violence during a protest should be dealt with strictly. However, identifying offenders and taking legal action is the prerogative of the state and law enforcement agencies. These duties are not the domain of private individuals or groups, regardless of their ideological or political leanings. PROTESTER THREATENED, FORCED TO APOLOGISE IN HEART OF DELHI In one such video, a person with a mic is seen confronting and heckling a man, accusing him of saying that he would "turn India into Nepal". Sharing the 5 minute, 18-second video shot in New Delhi's Connaught Place, the spokesperson of the Delhi unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Tajinder Bagga, said, "Bhai, India ko Nepal banane wala tha...", meaning, "Bro, he was trying to turn India into Nepal". Three "Tears of Joy" smileys accompanied the text. Commenting on the video, former civil servant Ashish Joshi urged the Delhi Police to "arrest the person holding the microphone", alleging that he was "harassing and threatening a citizen." Joshi added that the man was "openly hurling abuses and issuing threats" and appeared to have "no fear of the law." Joshi also called for action against Bagga under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), alleging that he had "incited people through social media." In the video, a man carrying a microphone, claiming to be a journalist, is seen approaching a group of protesters seated in an open space in New Delhi's Connaught Place after ensuring the camera is recording. He then grabs one of the men by the neck, while another attempts to walk away, and asks, "Were you saying you would turn India into Nepal?" and "What did you say about Modi?" The man responds that it was his first time speaking in front of a media camera, that he had made those remarks, and that he was later taken to a police station where he was allegedly kept for hours.
The BriefWire