Bol Madhavache

Beyond calling off the CJP protest

The CJP protest and Sonam Wangchuk’s fast have been called off, but many political exchanges will follow. Every party, ideologue, and journalist will offer interpretations; new stories will unfold across platforms — real, fake, deep‑fake, distorted, motivated — primarily driven by vested interests. It is certain that powers outside India will seek to shape narratives, a standard form of digital warfare, while hidden cells, sympathisers, criminals, and rioters within India will also play their part. Visibility, media attention, and reels will flood the internet next week. Yet the more important trends lie beyond that immediate noise.

Positives emerging from the agitation:

1. This is the first raw agitation that has moved beyond traditional Mandal/Kamandal politics.
2. It is the first student demand not framed in caste or religious tones. Coincidentally, it cornered the ruling party and opposition alike. The opposition space — long dominated by antagonists, dynasts, and politicians who lost credibility — is now filled by youngsters. These agitations are not advocates of dynasty‑based leaders, who are increasingly seen as opportunists.
3. Arvind Kejriwal, once a product of unrest and rebellion politics who sought to cleanse the system, has lost his space because a new player now occupies it.
4. CJP leaders may feel satisfaction at having challenged an “invincible” government, but that is only a partial truth. All forces are now on their toes. They must play constructive politics, for every party will be under scrutiny by the youth — CJP included.

Characteristics of Gen Z:

1. Gen Z is globally exposed, media‑savvy, and not enslaved to any mindset, ideology, party, or leader. They think independently.
2. Earlier agitations needed leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Subhaschandra Bose, and Jayaprakash Narayan. Today’s youth do not need leaders; they need channels. They are not followers of Rahul Gandhi, nor of Abhijit Dipke or CJP. Raised in a hire‑fire culture, they carry no historical baggage, no party commitments, and believe only in issues. They will discard CJP leadership too if it drifts into politics.
3. Their agitations are issue‑centric, reform‑driven, and indifferent to who governs. They reject the old formula of Congress out, BJP in; BJP out, AAP in; AAP out, CJP in.
4. Ninety percent of participants were not in agreement with political hijacking. Some were vocal in opposing it, and many did not want the agitation to be hijacked by political parties or by CJP leaning toward them. They disliked the comments of Kunal Kamra and the presence of celebrities, criminals, stone‑pelters, and rioters. They want reforms — nothing else. This silent majority does not demand FIR withdrawal or endorse controversial figures.
5. The young generation abhors current politics but is not averse to political expression. What they reject is the kind of politics practiced today.
6. To construe their victory as anti‑Modi or pro‑CJP is a grave mistake. They are detached from parties, leaders, personalities, history, and identity politics.
7. Their outlook is futuristic: jobs, employment, education, climate, and nature preservation.
8. Though raw and unorganized, they express themselves without being carried away by emotion, unlike past generations for whom slogans sufficed.
9. They demand data, action, scrutiny, evaluation, and direction — and they hold information power in their hands.
10. This generation will mercilessly scrutinize ruling and opposition parties, journalists, ideologues, vested interests, anti‑social and anti‑national elements, and even CJP leaders. If Narendra Modi, with a brute majority, had to step back, others have no chance to fool this generation.

Now, this generation will watch how Parliament debates education reforms, how CJP and other parties participate constructively, how reforms are made long‑term, and how vested interests are kept away. However many press conferences Rahul Gandhi holds, the youth will not support FIRs against unruly elements — such dramas will backfire over time.

CJP is only a trigger, not the real face. The real face is the vast, silent community of 18‑ to 30‑year‑olds — 25% of voters. These voters are not Hindu, Muslim, Yadav, Stalin loyalists, Congress sycophants, AAP rhetoricians, or clergy followers. They will scrutinize everything with their own consciousness, sharpened by data and intelligence.

Tough times ahead for all political parties.