Counterview

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat*  The police brutality unleashed against peaceful protesters at Jantar Mantar is neither new nor exceptional. It reflects a structural problem in our policing system. The police have long served those in power, often becoming instruments of political authority rather than protectors of citizens' rights. The difference today is that earlier governments, at least occasionally, held the police accountable for unlawful actions. Today, however, the government itself appears increasingly driven by the bureaucracy and the police establishment.

By Vijay Prashad   On 20 July, thousands of young people attempted to march from Jantar Mantar to Parliament. They carried placards, shouted slogans, and demanded the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over repeated examination irregularities, paper leaks, cancelled tests, and the government’s refusal to accept responsibility for the devastation inflicted upon students. The Delhi Police answered them with barricades, batons, and tear gas. Some protesters were detained, while others reorganised themselves into smaller groups and continued towards Parliament. The movement had crossed an important threshold: what began as satire on social media had entered the streets as a confrontation with state power.

By Bhabani Shankar Nayak*  Bloodied faces, battered bodies and broken bones stood in stark contrast to the remarkable resilience of students and young people who filled the streets of Delhi. Amid pain and fear, many continued to smile, refusing to abandon their commitment to non-violent protest. Their determination offers hope in a political climate increasingly defined by intolerance, repression and unaccountable governance under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government.

By Vikas  Meshram*  When the numbers are examined closely, one conclusion is inescapable: Indian agriculture is passing through a deep and prolonged crisis. Farming is no longer a dependable source of livelihood, while public support remains inadequate to restore its viability. The Indian farmer, who once relied primarily on his land, is increasingly being pushed towards wage labour. Today, barely one-third of a farming household's monthly income comes from cultivation, while nearly two-thirds is earned through wage labour, salaried jobs, or small businesses. Farming alone is no longer sufficient to sustain a family.

By Ram Puniyani*  A sit-in protest is currently underway outside Mohammad Ali Jauhar University in Rampur. The university is run by the Mohammad Ali Jauhar Trust, chaired by Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan, who is presently in jail. Students are protesting a notice issued by the Rampur Development Authority (RDA), directing the demolition of 38 out of the university's 40 buildings. If implemented, the order would effectively shut down the university.

By Bharat Dogra  As the rainy season arrived, people in many villages worried about paths becoming difficult to navigate. However, in over 150 villages of Kherwara block in South Rajasthan, there was much less concern on this front. Well before the onset of the rains, villagers had held meetings to reduce anticipated problems as much as possible.