Thiruvananthapuram: The Narendra Modi Government seems to have avoided the ‘emergency trap’ by conceding to the politically sensitive demand of the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) for the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan as Education Minister.
Admittedly, the decision was made belatedly. If it had been taken earlier, before the protests in the heart of the national capital intensified and gained political momentum, the government might have saved face.
Nonetheless, the Modi regime sidestepped a heavy political toll that could have arisen from prolonged confrontation with the protesters.
Despite their bravado about playing a crucial role in the success of the campaign, the opposition INDIA bloc leaders’ hopes of gaining significant political advantage from a lengthy standoff were dashed.
Lessons from the 1970s
If the unrest had continued unresolved, the administration might have been compelled to use force, possibly resulting in casualties. Such an outcome would have provided the opposition with further ammunition to oppose the government more vigorously.
The way the INDIA bloc leaders, particularly the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi, acted last week suggested they wanted the issue to persist and escalate into a nationwide movement, reminiscent of the ‘Total Revolution’ campaign led by veteran Socialist and Gandhian Jayaprakash Narayan in the 1970s. The then-Indira Gandhi government responded to the agitation with high-handedness, eventually declaring the Internal Emergency, marking a dark chapter in India’s history.
In hindsight, the BJP leadership exhibited greater restraint than during the era of Indira Gandhi.
The BJP leadership was prepared to abandon its initial stance demanding Pradhan’s resignation, demonstrating political prudence that a temporary embarrassment was preferable to severe, long-term political consequences from cracking down on the Gen Z protesters.
Party strategists also appeared intent on avoiding the INDIA bloc exploiting the situation ahead of the important Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly elections. The party is already under attack over the Ram Temple cash scam.
By resolving the crisis, the government also prevented the Monsoon Session of Parliament from being entirely disrupted. With the protests over, opposition parties are now compelled to return to Parliament, where key legislations remain on the agenda.
Though they can still fiercely raise issues such as the NEET exam leak scandal, stage walk-outs, and cause adjournments, they cannot force the session to be abandoned through stalling proceedings.
Meanwhile, parliamentary proceedings offer the government a platform to present its perspective and introduce measures to bolster the integrity of the examination system.
Clever but Careful Moves
The government’s first prudent step was to open channels of dialogue, even when national political sentiments were unfavourable.
Union Ministers Jitendra Singh and JP Nadda were appointed as negotiators. As Sonam Wangchuk called off his fast, it paved the way for meaningful conversations. Notably, the opposition was kept excluded from negotiations, and CJP leaders showed no interest in involving them.
Throughout the dialogue process, the agitators insisted on Pradhan’s resignation. Although it came at a political cost, it became evident that yielding was a better option than risking long-term consequences by letting the situation escalate.
Message from the RSS Chief
The message from RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, widely seen as favouring a resolution, may have influenced BJP decision-makers.
Bhagwat stressed that today’s youth are not “misguided” or “directionless,” calling for engagement rather than “dictation.”
Given his reputation for thoughtful communication, it is believed he intended to send a subtle message to the government.
Could the CJP Pose a Threat to the Opposition?
Following the success of the Delhi protests, debates are ongoing about whether the CJP might evolve into a political entity.
Though its leaders have not committed to a specific stance, they have indicated the movement will remain active both online and offline, harnessing the anger and frustration of Generation Z.
If CJP were to transform into a politorganisation, the opposition INDIA bloc may have more to worry about than the BJP. It could also threaten the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which emerged from a similar protest movement.
In contemporary Indian politics, the BJP vs. non-BJP binary dominates. A political CJP could disrupt this dynamic, potentially encroaching on opposition space. The INDIA bloc partners, especially Congress, might hesitate to engage with the CJP, fearing electoral repercussions. Some Congress leaders have already claimed partial credit for the Delhi agitators’ success.
Editor’s Note: The views expressed in this article are those of the author, N. Muraleedharan, and do not necessarily reflect the editorial position of TheNews21.
