PANAJI: Citizens for Democracy Goa Convenor Elvis Gomes on Thursday condemned the alleged police action against students protesting over paper leaks, questioning whether the country was upholding the democratic values enshrined in the Constitution.
Addressing the press, Gomes said the treatment meted out to protesting students was “a matter of serious concern” and accused authorities of using force to suppress peaceful protests.
“Looking at the visuals of what happened during the protest march, the way students were beaten and the behaviour of the police, one has to ask whether this is the Indian Republic envisioned by the Constitution,” Gomes said.
He recalled Dr B R Ambedkar’s final speech in the Constituent Assembly on November 25, 1949, where he stressed that democracy depended on constitutional methods for achieving social and political change. Gomes also stated that the right to protest peacefully was a fundamental right recognised by the Supreme Court.
“The Supreme Court has clearly stated that the right to protest is a fundamental right. Despite this, we are witnessing a situation where police and even private individuals wearing helmets appear to have used force, including batons,” he alleged.
Gomes compared the alleged crackdown to methods used during British rule, saying, “The same methods of suppression that were used by the British continue even after 75 years of independence. How can such brutality be accepted in a free country?”
Gomes also targeted the Centre over repeated allegations of examination paper leaks, saying the issue had affected the future of students across the country.
“India has a great educational legacy, with institutions like Nalanda University standing as examples. But today, the future generation is suffering because of failures in the education system,” he said.
He alleged that paper leaks had become a recurring issue and demanded accountability from those responsible.
“This is not a one-off incident. Students are asking who will take moral responsibility and resign. Someone from the government should come forward and publicly apologise for what has happened,” Gomes said.
He added that Citizens for Democracy stood with students demanding reforms in the education system.
“We stand with the students of this country. They are fighting for justice and for a better education system,” he said.
Citizens for Democracy member Amar Gaonkar criticised a recent government rally, alleging that people were misled into attending it.
Gaonkar also criticised the use of abusive slogans during political protests, stating that such language sent the wrong message to young people.
“How much will you teach such words to children? Students are part of these protests, and such language affects the values we pass on to the next generation,” Gaonkar said.
He said the anger among youth was not limited to examination issues but was linked to broader concerns over employment and opportunities.
“The problem is not only about paper leaks. After education, what opportunities are available? Government jobs are reducing, private sector jobs are facing layoffs, and there is uncertainty among young people,” Gaonkar said.
He urged the government to address youth concerns immediately and use Parliament as a platform for discussion.
“Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha exist for discussion. Having numbers allows a government to pass decisions, but discussion must continue. If a government makes peaceful discussion impossible, it can lead to greater unrest,” he said.
