Jaipur. Students and youth staged a spontaneous, peaceful and democratic protest at the main gate of Rajasthan University on Thursday, opposing the alleged brutal action against students in Delhi. A large number of students, research scholars and members of various student organisations participated in the demonstration and expressed their opposition to the action against students.
Carrying placards and posters, the protesters demanded protection of democratic rights, respect for education and safety of students. They called for strict action against officials allegedly responsible for the action against students and demanded that democratic rights be protected and the voices of students be respected. The protesters also demanded the resignations of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, holding them morally responsible.
The university campus echoed with slogans such as “Stop atrocities against students,” “Stop attacks on democracy,” “Save education, save democracy” and “Respect the Constitution.”
Rajasthan University teachers Dr. C.B. Yadav, Dr. Vikram Singh, Dr. Manish Singh Sinwar and Dr. Anubhav Vasnik, among others, were present during the protest. Student leaders and research scholars, including Raman Yadav, Ram Singh Samota, Ramesh Bhati, Ira Bose, Pooja Verma and Shubham Rewar, also participated and extended their support to the movement.
Addressing the gathering, speakers said that any attempt to suppress students' voices through lathi-charge, arrests or repression was deeply concerning. They said genuine student demands should be resolved through dialogue, constitutional procedures and democratic values rather than the use of force.
The protesters warned that if the Central Government failed to take a positive decision on the students' demands and did not initiate strict action against those responsible, a massive student-youth protest would be organised in Jaipur on July 25, involving students, youth, research scholars and teachers from across Rajasthan. They said the movement would continue to expand through democratic means until a just decision was taken on the students' demands.
Dr. C.B. Yadav said the movement was not associated with any political party but was a spontaneous people's movement for the dignity, safety, education and democratic rights of students across the country. He said every attempt to suppress the voice of students weakens democracy and that the youth of the country would not accept it under any circumstances.
At the conclusion of the protest, it was unanimously decided that if no positive action was taken on the students' demands, a state-wide massive student-youth march and protest would be held on July 25 at 6 pm, starting from the main gate of Rajasthan University. Thousands of students, youth, research scholars, teachers and representatives of various social organisations from across the state are expected to participate. The organisers said the movement would remain completely peaceful, democratic and constitutional, and would continue to safeguard student rights and democratic values.