'The Govt's Initiatives Are Like the Titanic – Here Today, Sunk Tomorrow': Voices From Jantar Mantar

New Delhi: The Cockroach Janta Party protest at Jantar Mantar is showing no signs of losing steam. 

Dismissed by many as a temporary flash in a Gen Z pan, it has now weathered over two weeks on the ground, and has received support from many quarters, including from the Trinamool Congress's Mahua Moitra and Sagarika Ghose, Communist Party of India (Marxist)’s Brinda Karat and M.A. Baby, Communist Party of India's Annie Raja, and Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) Liberation's Dipankar Bhattacharya.

Human rights lawyers Prashant Bhushan and Colin Gonsalves have also expressed solidarity as has author Arundhati Roy. Aam Aadmi Party MLA Sanjay Singh has promised to take up the Cockroaches’ demand in the upcoming monsoon session of Parliament. Members of student bodies Students Federation of India and All India Students' Association have also been supporting the Cockroaches since day one. 

Sonam Wangchuk is not the only one on hunger strike here. Fasting a short distance away from the stage under a tarpaulin are a number of students who say they will not eat or drink till education minister Dharmendra Pradhan has resigned. 

Swatantra Singh, a final year undergraduate from Prayagraj says:

“I decided to start fasting because even after 11 days of protest the government has not responded. Twenty five young people have died by suicide as a result of the NEET paper leaks, 700 farmers died during the Kisan Andolan [against the central farm laws in 2020-21], what is it going to take for this government to wake up? We are going to fast and we hope Dharmendra Pradhan realises that either he has to leave his post or we are going to leave this life. In a couple of days we will also stop drinking water.”

It is heartbreaking to hear a 20-year-old with his whole life ahead of him say this. During the course of our conversation I tell him I had covered the farmers’ protest at Delhi’s borders, and he asks me:

“Do you think what we are doing here will make a difference?"

Also read: 'If This Government Changes, Maybe My Children Will Get Jobs One Day'

It is a deep and sincere question. He is not looking for a glib answer. I think about it for a few seconds and tell him, “Every heartfelt effort always bears fruit,” fervently praying I am right in this case.

Mannat, who has just completed high school is holding up a sign with a sketch of a sanitary pad that says, ‘SaNEETary Pads - 0% Leak Protection’. She says:

“I have many friends who gave NEET this year and also suffered onscreen marking. So many lives have been ruined because of the NEET leaks. It’s very good this protest is happening, because the government needs to take accountability for its wrongdoing. It’s ridiculous that they haven’t responded to our demands! Two young students were beaten by the police because they have set up a library here.”

I ask her if she feels any fear.  

“There is no reason to fear because we are all here for each other. If we don’t protest, then the government will continue its its wayward ways. But if we can keep this going and the government realises that yes, they will be held responsible for what they do wrong, then I would say this protest has accomplished its purpose."

'How can this government be so heartless?' asks Captain Rakesh. Photo: Rohit Kumar.

Captain Rakesh, president of Uttarakhand Samyukt Sainik Sangathan, says:

“I thought the government would surely listen to these young people because their concerns and demands about the examination system are entirely fair and reasonable. But even after so many days, it still hasn't. The family of one of the young women who died by suicide following the NEET paper leak had taken a Rs 5 lakh loan to support her education, despite not even having a roof over their own house. How can this government be so heartless?

"Pradhan Mantri ji, you don’t have kids of your own, but aren’t these also your kids in a way? You should have come here to meet these students. I am hoping you still will but of you don’t, then we who have protected the country will also come and be part of this protest.”

Rasika, who has been volunteering at the protest from day one says:

“The situation here is becoming more and more serious. With the hunger strike, the anger and emotion are increasing and people are not going to leave from here. This protest is for the students and more and more teachers and students need to come and take part in this.”