There are protests. There is dissent. And then there is anarchy masquerading as democratic activism. Threatening to demolish Parliament, promising Nepal-style political upheaval and openly talking about chasing or lynching those in power are not protected by the Constitution of Bharat. They are an assault on the very democratic institutions that generations of Bhartiya’s fought to establish and preserve. What is even more shocking is not that a newly floated Cockroach Party chose to indulge in such theatrics, but that seasoned politicians from mainstream political parties have found it convenient to romanticise such protests by invoking the slogans of Bharat’s freedom movement. The ghosts of political opportunism have apparently become louder than the voice of constitutional morality. Bharat’s freedom fighters raised “Vande Mataram” and “Inquilab Zindabad” to liberate Bharat from colonial rule and to establish democratic institutions—not to encourage mobs to threaten Parliament. To equate anti-Parliament rhetoric with the spirit of Bharat’s freedom struggle is an insult to both our freedom fighters and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s Constitution. Parliament is not BJP’s Parliament. It is not Congress’s Parliament. It belongs to 1.4 billion Bharatiyans. One is therefore compelled to ask: Which provision of the Constitution permits protesters to threaten constitutional institutions? Which Article permits calls for political lynching? Which democratic principle allows elected representatives to applaud or endorse an atmosphere where Parliament itself is threatened? The answer is simple—none. The Cockroach Party may claim that it was merely protesting against examination paper leaks and demanding the resignation of the Union Education Minister. That is their democratic right. Political accountability can and must be demanded through peaceful and constitutional means. But when slogans graduate from seeking accountability to threatening democratic institutions, the nature of the protest fundamentally changes. Political parties and activists must understand one thing—Bharat is not Nepal. Bharat is not Bangladesh. Bharat is not Sri Lanka. Those who are waiting for a so-called “people’s revolution” to overthrow democratically elected governments are suffering from dangerous political delusions.
The ballot box—not the street—is where governments are made and unmade in Bharat. Equally disturbing is the conduct of sections of the foreign media, which are once again salivating at the prospect of projecting Bharat as a nation descending into chaos. The usual suspects have predictably sprung into action, attempting to portray a fringe protest as a democratic uprising and legitimate law enforcement as suppression of dissent. The BBCs and Al Jazeera’s of the world would do well to understand that Bharat is not waiting for their certification as a democracy. Bharat’s democratic credentials were established long before many of these self-appointed global moral policemen discovered selective outrage. For decades, certain sections of the foreign media have displayed an unhealthy fascination with Bharat’s supposed democratic decline. They seem perpetually disappointed every time Bharat emerges stronger, more stable and more united despite their carefully curated narratives of doom and gloom. Bharat’s domestic media must also behave responsibly and not become willing amplifiers of foreign propaganda or anarchic politics. Criticism of governments is legitimate and necessary in a democracy. Manufacturing narratives that undermine constitutional institutions is not. The Ministry of Home Affairs and law enforcement agencies must identify every individual who openly threatened Parliament or advocated violence and prosecute them in accordance with the law. Constitutional democracy cannot afford to treat such threats casually simply because they were uttered at a political protest. Finally, let this serve as a message to anti-national elements, political opportunists and foreign propagandists alike—stop dreaming of creating anarchy in Bharat. Cockroaches thrive in filth and darkness. Constitutional democracies do not. Bharat’s Parliament was built by the aspirations of millions and protected by the sacrifices of countless patriots. Those who threaten it will neither intimidate the nation nor destabilise its democracy. They will simply be crushed—constitutionally, democratically and firmly—by the rule of law. Jai Hind.
The cockroaches seen at Jantar Mantar from film industry, political parties, so called lumanaries from civil societies, comedians led by a self proclaimed scientist turned a genuine issue of paper leak into a protest that was anti-India, anti-Hindu, anti-BJP, anti-constitution anti-Modi, anti-anything that has to do with nation’s development. This was not a protest of students. Not surprisingly, the famous cockroaches were not in the front to take lathis blow but rather occupying front rows sitting on chairs as aam adamis. Kudos to Delhi police and rapid action forces to show ultimate restrain while using mild force against the disoriented young people. They just used kid gloves without the intention of hurting and in the process getting themselves hurt. The most notorious and famous cockroach Junaid bhai was missing! The author has rightly suggested that the government should nab these anti-national elements who were openly threatening on camera to blow the Indian Temple of democracy, our Parliament and put them behind bars.