2019 saw the people of India reposing their faith in the Narendra Modi government, and the outright rejection of the divisive and malicious campaign led by the Opposition parties. Ever since, many attempts have been made to create an atmosphere of anarchy across parts of India, threatening India’s vibrant democratic traditions.

The indictment of Left politics as proponents of violence in JNU by the Delhi Police highlights the inherent desire of the Left to spread a culture of mobocracy. While some of our media friends sympathetic to the left cause wasted no time in repackaging perpetrators of violence as victims, it turns out post the Police briefing this position stands untenable.

It was more than evident that a large number of students who wanted to register to pursue their scholastic goals were prevented from doing so in order to fuel the political fires of the opposition.

Parties and ideas rejected by the people in large numbers have tried to use students of Jawaharlal Nehru University as proxies to create a perception of agitation among India’s youth. This, however, belies the fact that there are over 900 university campuses in India, where students are peacefully pursuing their academics and have not resorted to violence or vandalism. The question that begets us all is if these anarchists who have earmarked the campus as their political launch pads do not represent thousands of students of JNU who are keen to appear for their exams, can they truly be called the voice of the youth from other universities.

THE CONTINUED CYCLE OF VIOLENCE IN JNU

Violent protests in JNU have been ongoing for nearly a year now. One of the notable incidents in 2019 was when Leftist mobs attacked the house of Vice Chancellor, gheraoing his wife. Since then, professors, administrators and students who disagree with the Left ideology have been subjected to repeated gheraos, physical assaults, lockdowns, picketing and at times have been held hostage in their own institution. One dean in urgent need of medical services was not even allowed to access emergency services.

The violence peaked on January 5, 2020, with students affiliated to Communist aided student bodies assaulted students wanting to register for their end semester examinations. What is disturbing though is the glossing of the violence perpetrated by these students, and the glorification of such behaviour as ‘dissent’. Is willfully stopping other students, who refuse to partake in politics of any kind, from registering for their exams ‘dissent’? Thanks to the power of social media though, the truth has indeed surfaced.

VIOLENCE IS THE LEFT’S CALLING CARD

The correlation between political violence and the Left is well known. Violence is their last refuge, since they have zero political acceptability in democratic set ups, thanks to their outdated ideas on economy and society. Be it the targeted political bloodbath in Kerala or the 3 decade reign of terror in West Bengal, violence and disruption of democracy are political virtues the Left swears by. What we as a Nation witness in the Left politics of JNU is a reflection of the same.

Communists have not just endorsed violence; they have also demonstrated anti-national behaviour repeatedly. Even in recent times, the alleged celebration of murder of CRPF jawans in 2010 and alleged decrying India’s military action to regain Kargil heights in 2000 are well recorded instances. Even in 2016, when some of them shot to false fame, anti-India slogans that also rejected India’s Constitution were vociferously raised. Moreover, they have deliberately indulged in inflaming communal passions by insulting the religious sentiments of Hindus and Sikhs repeatedly, calling Maa Durga names in the garb of celebrating ‘Mahishasura’.

COMETH THE HOUR, COMETH THE NEW SAVIOR

Sympathizers of these lumpen elements within the media have been trying desperately to discover a new saviour, who will be able to undermine a democratically elected government and become a beacon of false hope. ‘Heroes’ of resistance were discovered overnight and continue to remain in the headlines, even though they have faced outright rejection in their own home constituencies. The Opposition has left no stone unturned in shielding such elements, even refusing clearances to police requests for arresting such people as they remain to this day useful political tools in their propaganda against democratic institutions.

Some elements do not leave any opportunity at creating a false narrative. The timing of such narratives alongside the emergence of these seasonal saviours of course is always convenient – just before some election in some state or at the national level. A fake narrative of ‘lynching’ was created before the Bihar state assembly elections in 2015 along with a much discussed ‘award wapsi’ and was quietly buried subsequently. Even before the 2015 Delhi elections, a false narrative of ‘Christians under threat in India’ by misreading random incidents as attacks on churches was orchestrated. This time around, it’s assembly elections season again and it is no surprise that another bunch of seasonal saviours are being discovered alongside attempts to create yet another fake narrative.

DEMOCRACY HAS NO ROOM FOR VIOLENCE

With these subversive actions, there is a conscious attempt at misleading the people at large, and inciting violence and vandalism to defame India for petty political gains. Such a narrative must be rejected by one and all. Democracy has no room for violence, even more so in a country that has such a deep and vibrant democratic tradition such as ours. Peaceful protest, peaceful dissent and dialogue and debate are the hallmarks of our democracy and any endorsement or perpetration of violence should have no place in our society.