I am writing in response to your recent report on the students' protest at Jantar Mantar. There is a clear difference between a protest and a riot. The students' demonstration that we have witnessed for almost a month now falls squarely in the category of a peaceful protest. The slogans raised are focused and to the point. The core demand is accountability from the government. Citizens have every right to put forth their demands and those demands must be discussed. Protest is not the first recourse. The established channels are: the Opposition in government followed by the judiciary and the media. The issue of irregularities in common entrance exams has been festering for years. All three of these pillars have failed to address it and the problem continues to recur. In this context the protest is both justified and necessary. Secondly, if this is a protest and not a riot, then why is it being handled with riot-control measures? The use of lathi charge, tear gas and stone-pelting by the police puts the reputation of the force in a poor light.
ALWYN FERNANDES, Benaulim
