How has the Indian government responded to ‘Cockroach’ protests?
The BJP government’s response so far has been a measured crackdown as it also attempts to woo the youth. As the dust settles over New
The BJP government’s response so far has been a measured crackdown as it also attempts to woo the youth. As the dust settles over New Delhi’s Jantar Mantar after weeks of some of the biggest protests against Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 12-year rule, the government has so far responded with both a measured crackdown and an attempt to woo the youth. In several states governed by Modi’s right-wing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), hundreds of young men and women – some less than 18 years old – were arrested and slapped with serious charges. India’s Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered the release of all under-18s arrested during the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)-led protests over a series of examination paper leaks and calls for education reforms. But even before the top court’s order, many of those arrested were released earlier this week after protest leaders and opposition politicians slammed the government’s crackdown. Meanwhile, several students and Gen Z protesters say their social media accounts are now being targeted and cases filed against them for criticising the government. The protests began in June at Jantar Mantar, a historic 18th‑century astronomical observatory close to the Indian Parliament, over the leak of key medical exam papers. The leak allowed some candidates advance access to questions, forcing students to retake their exams, stoking anger over years of preparation rendered meaningless and leading to several student suicides. Here’s what we know What’s happening with the arrests? The BJP governments in West Bengal and Maharashtra states on Tuesday stopped their actions against those who participated in the CJP-led protests following similar moves in Bihar, Assam and the national capital territory of Delhi. The governments in these states said they will withdraw their cases against the protesters who demanded the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who quit on Saturday in a rare setback for Modi.
In several places including New Delhi, the protesters were attacked with batons, tear gas and even pellet guns. In Bihar’s Siwan district, a police officer was suspended on Tuesday for pointing an AK-47 at protesters and firing at least three rounds in the air. Meanwhile, the government has been accused of using AI-powered surveillance to track and arrest the protesters. Student activist Aishe Ghosh has asked the Delhi High Court to declare the mass surveillance of protesters unconstitutional and direct the destruction of all personal data collected during the CJP-led demonstration, the Reuters news agency reported. Police in New Delhi also tried to arrest Ghosh on Tuesday by raiding the office of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPM). But the CPM and CJP threatened more protests if she was arrested. Why is the government targeting social media accounts? Meanwhile, Delhi Police have filed a first information report (FIR) against allegedly abusive social media posts against Modi and have asked X to provide details of the account that published the content. The FIR was filed over a complaint that “derogatory, malicious and defamatory content is being circulated on social media platform targeting constitutional heads”, India’s ANI news agency reported on Wednesday. Police have asked X to delete the alleged posts and videos from the platform immediately. They have also sought the full names, addresses and other contact details of people holding those X accounts, including their login and logout details with time and date stamp, ANI reported. During the protests, police were also seen noting Instagram handles of protesters arriving at the main protest site at Jantar Mantar. Modi’s government has often been accused by opposition parties and digital rights advocates of expanding surveillance powers and tightly controlling online platforms.
The BriefWire