37-day-long Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) movement came to an end in what many consider a historic moment. It is being seen as a victory for young people, students, and democracy itself. In a democracy, peaceful protest is a constitutional right of every citizen, and this movement once again demonstrated that a united and peaceful voice can reach those in power.
Not Hindus or Muslims, but Indians Standing Together One of the movement's greatest strengths was its unity. It did not become a movement of any particular religion, caste, or community. Instead, people came together as Indians for a common cause. History has repeatedly shown that when citizens stand united on an issue, governments are compelled to listen. Participation Across All Sections of Society Although Gen Z played the leading role in the movement, it also saw active participation from women, senior citizens, millennials, persons with disabilities, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and various civil society organisations.
This is the true beauty of democracy every citizen has an equal right to express their views. A Message of Responsibility Alongside Protest One of the most positive images to emerge after the movement ended was students cleaning the Jantar Mantar protest site. Picking up litter, sweeping the area, and leaving the public space clean reflected the idea that responsible citizens can protest while also fulfilling their civic responsibilities.
Choosing Peace Over Violence Despite moments of tension and police action during the protest, the movement largely remained peaceful. Students expressed their dissent through posters, satire, and creative forms of expression rather than violence. Their restraint under difficult circumstances became one of the defining characteristics of the movement.
Anger Towards the Media, but Journalists Also Have a Role During the protests, many demonstrators criticised what they described as the "Godi Media." While criticism of the media is a legitimate part of democracy, reporters on the ground are often simply performing their professional duties. Personal abuse or harassment of journalists cannot be considered consistent with democratic values. Protest Should Also Respect the Dignity of Public Institutions During the movement, some objectionable slogans and personal remarks were directed at Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Criticising the government and its policies is a democratic right, but maintaining the dignity of constitutional offices is equally important. Today that office is held by Narendra Modi; tomorrow it may be someone else.
Respect for democratic institutions should remain constant regardless of who occupies the position. Social Media and Alleged Paid Campaigns During the movement, some social media users shared emails that allegedly offered payments in exchange for creating content against the protest.
However, these claims have not yet been officially verified or investigated. Therefore, they should not be treated as established facts. If they are confirmed in the future, they would certainly raise serious concerns. In the End... A Hope for the Future
Marxia Jafar
