The BJP government's response so far has involved a careful crackdown while also trying to attract young people's support.
As he situation around New Delhi’s Jantar Mantar begins to calm down, following weeks of large-scale protests against Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 12-year leadership, the government has taken a balanced approach, including both strict actions and efforts to engage with the youth.
In several states where the BJP holds power, hundreds of young people, some under 18, were arrested and charged with serious offenses.
On Tuesday, India’s Supreme Court ordered the release of all minors arrested during the protests led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), which were triggered by leaked examination papers and calls for education reforms.
However, even before the Supreme Court's ruling, many of the arrested individuals were released this week after protest leaders and opposition figures criticized the government’s handling of the situation.
At the same time, some students and Gen Z protesters are reporting that their social media accounts are being targeted, with cases filed against them for criticizing the government.
The protests began in June at Jantar Mantar, a historic 18th-century astronomical observatory near the Indian Parliament, following the leak of key medical exam papers.
This leak gave some candidates an unfair advantage and forced students to retake exams, causing outrage over years of hard work being wasted and leading to several instances of student suicides.
Here’s what we know:
What’s happening with the arrests?
The BJP governments in West Bengal and Maharashtra have stopped their actions against those involved in the CJP-led protests, following similar moves in Bihar, Assam, and the national capital territory of Delhi.
These governments stated they will drop cases against protesters who demanded the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who resigned on Saturday, marking a rare loss for Modi.
In various places, including New Delhi, protesters were beaten with batons, tear gas, and even pellet guns.
In Bihar’s Siwan district, a police officer was suspended on Tuesday for pointing an AK-47 at protesters and firing three rounds into the air.
The government has also been accused of using AI-powered surveillance to track and arrest the protesters.
Student activist Aishe Ghosh has asked the Delhi High Court to declare the mass surveillance of protesters unconstitutional and order the destruction of all data collected during the CJP protests, according to Reuters.
New Delhi police also tried to arrest Ghosh on Tuesday by raiding the office of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPM).
The CPM and CJP threatened further protests if she was arrested.
Why is the government targeting social media accounts?
Delhi Police have filed a first information report (FIR) against allegedly abusive social media posts directed against Modi and have asked X to provide details of the account that published such content.
The FIR was filed in response to a complaint that “derogatory, malicious and defamatory content is being spread on social media platforms targeting constitutional heads,” as reported by India’s ANI news agency on Wednesday.
Police have asked X to delete the alleged posts and videos immediately and have also requested the full names, addresses, and other contact details of the people operating those accounts, including login and logout information with timestamps, ANI reported.
During the protests, police were also seen recording the Instagram handles of protesters arriving at the main protest site at Jantar Mantar.
Modi’s government has often been accused by opposition parties and digital rights advocates of expanding surveillance powers and closely controlling online platforms.
The government has rejected these allegations, stating that it acts solely in the public interest.
What did the top court say?
The Supreme Court on Tuesday heard several petitions from protesters and activists seeking accountability for the alleged excessive use of force, including pellet guns, by police and paramilitary forces during the several-week-long demonstrations in New Delhi and other cities.
The court ordered the preservation of all footage, including from drones, body cameras, and CCTV, and directed authorities to ensure that protesters' data was not made public, as reported by Reuters.
Chief Justice Surya Kant stated that anyone who has committed serious offenses against innocent individuals will face legal consequences.
He emphasized the need for an entirely independent and fair investigation to ensure justice, as reported by the legal website Live Law.
He added, “An inquiry holds no value if no one is held accountable.”
How have the protest leaders reacted?
Later, Saurav Das, the spokesperson for the Chief Justice of India (CJP), mentioned that the government has not provided any written assurance that all First Information Reports (FIRs) against students and protesters will be dropped, and no actions will be taken against protesters in the future.
During a meeting with government officials, Das said they presented him with the Supreme Court’s order, particularly Direction No.
4, which permits investigations into the existing FIRs.
Das informed ANI that the government argued the matter is now “subjudice” since the Supreme Court’s directive is a written order.
In response to the Delhi Police FIRs against alleged abusive social media posts, the CJP questioned why ordinary citizens cannot challenge their government without fear of retaliation.
On Wednesday, the CJP asked on X, “Since when is an elected leader above being questioned?
In a functioning democracy, citizens have the right to demand answers and accountability from their Prime Minister.”
The statement highlighted how the state machinery is sending a chilling message by treating online criticism as a criminal act and threatening “public order,” implying the Prime Minister is beyond public scrutiny.
How is the government trying to attract Gen Z?
Meanwhile, the government has started a campaign to win over Gen Z, many of whom are children of BJP’s core voters.
According to Pew Research, people under the age of 29, including Gen Z, make up about half of India’s population.
The Hindustan Times reported that the party has been sharing a series of social media videos featuring pop culture references, casual chats, and everyday situations to deliver political messages in a way that appeals to India’s Gen Z audience.
One such video is set in a gym, where a group of young people are engaged in Gen Z-style banter, interrupted by an older trainer who argues that Pradhan’s resignation was “not a Jantar Mantar victory, but an example of democracy’s strength.”
The trainer points out that the country now has “stronger foundations” due to the government’s development of metro systems, expressways, airports, and the expansion of state-run medical, engineering, and management colleges.
The BJP has also been sharing a series of X posts using Gen Z language and style, following Modi’s rare Instagram-style vertical selfie videos aimed at engaging with the protesters.
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