On July 20, 2026, India’s young people took to the streets demanding accountability for paper leaks and a fair education system. They came from every class, region, and religion. They sang, laughed, and held hands — and believed they could fight and win. The nation watched. For a moment, it felt like the old spirit of non-violent resistance had returned. But the response that followed was not dialogue. It was force.
Tear gas shells, lathi charges, pellet guns. A pellet struck a young man in the eye. Minors were beaten. In Siwan, Bihar, protesters were fired upon with AK-47s. Hundreds were injured. Five hundred meters from Parliament, students were brutally attacked. Reports were filed — against one man: Home Minister Amit Shah.
This raises a question the government cannot dodge: Who authorized this violence? There are only two possibilities. First, the Home Minister knew and approved it. That makes him culpable. Second, he did not know what was happening 500 meters from his office. That makes him incompetent.
Silence is not an option. By refusing to come to Parliament, by refusing an inquiry or even a statement, the inaction signals approval. It tells every young Indian that demanding accountability is a crime. At the same time, the machinery of propaganda has kicked in. Information reports are filed against protesters. Young women are threatened online and forced to issue apologies. The Prime Minister asks the youth to “forgive” him for exercising their right to protest.
Forgive what? Forgive being beaten for asking for a fair exam? Forgive being shot at for asking that your future not be sold in paper leaks?
Since 2014, this government has been deeply out of touch with India’s youth. That image is now shattered beyond repair. The youth of 2026 have seen through it. They are not asking for favors. They are asking for rights.
We cannot let these crimes pass unpunished. The students who marched on July 20 are not a threat to the nation. They are its conscience. They are reminding us that democracy is not just about elections every five years. It is about accountability every single day. Either the government acts against those who ordered the violence, or it admits it cannot control its own forces. Either way, the country deserves an answer.