Amid the ongoing student protest at Jantar Mantar, voices opposing it have also begun to emerge. At a press conference held on Friday, the youth organization NavYuvak Dal raised several demands, expressing concern over the alleged chaos, political agenda, and misleading of young people in the name of the student movement. The organization made it clear that it supports students’ genuine issues and their movement over matters such as the NEET paper leak, but any form of violence, chaos, or political exploitation under the guise of the movement cannot be accepted.
NavYuvak Dal National President and youth activist Bharat Katyayan said that India’s youth are the ones who unite the nation. He stated that during the Kargil War, the greatest sacrifices were made by soldiers aged 20 to 24. Captain Vikram Batra, Captain Manoj Kumar Pandey, Lieutenant Vijayant Thapar, and other brave soldiers continue to serve as role models for the country’s youth. According to him, today’s Indian youth are creating new innovations in fields such as defense, space, agriculture, and AI, and their energy should be devoted to nation-building rather than to movements where they are allegedly being used for political or foreign interests.
Bharat Katyayan said that incidents such as the NEET paper leak have naturally generated anger among young people. He said the government should not limit itself to giving explanations but must take strict action against those responsible so that such incidents are not repeated in the future. He added that peaceful democratic student movements should be respected and that the government should engage in dialogue with students. However, if a separate political agenda is being pursued in the name of the student movement, it should also be exposed.
**Demand for Strict Action Against Paper Leak Culprits and Fast-Track Court Hearings**
He said that NavYuvak Dal stands with students’ interests, but student issues should not be used for political polarization, violence, or to exert pressure on democratic institutions. The organization demanded that the 2024 Anti-Paper Leak Law be made more effective and that paper leak cases be investigated swiftly so that those responsible receive severe punishment.
During the press conference, the organization also expressed concern over incidents reported during the recent student movement. Bharat Katyayan said that if journalists—especially women journalists—women, young girls, or police personnel were subjected to violence or misconduct during the protests, an impartial investigation should be conducted. He further stated that if police personnel continue to be targeted even after the movement has ended, it is a serious matter and those responsible should face action.
Bharat Katyayan said that the country’s youth know how to choose their own role models, and that their true heroes are the soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice for the nation. He described Captain Vikram Batra, Captain Manoj Kumar Pandey, Captain Anuj Nayyar, Captain Saurabh Kalia, Lieutenant Vijayant Thapar, Captain Hanif Uddin, Major Mariappan Saravanan, and all 527 martyrs of the Kargil War as inspirations for the youth.
On this occasion, NavYuvak Dal announced a nationwide candle march on July 26, Kargil Vijay Diwas, at the National War Memorial in Delhi as well as in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, and other parts of the country. According to the organization, the objective of the campaign is to pay tribute to the brave martyrs of Kargil and spread the message of patriotism and nation-building among the youth. It also appealed to all youth organizations across the country to participate in the campaign.
Bharat Katyayan also announced that if the current student movement does not conclude by July 26, NavYuvak Dal, with the support of young people, will organize a large democratic protest in Lucknow on July 29. He said the organization’s objective is to prevent youth from being misled, protect students’ interests, and raise public awareness in favor of transparency in the education system and national unity. In conclusion, he appealed to all youth organizations to come together and work on issues related to education reform, the future of young people, and the national interest.