Blood of youths at Jantar Mantar cries out for justice, says writer Sarah Joseph

Writer and social activist Sarah Joseph addressing the 24-hour satyagraha organised by the All India Students’ Federation district committee in Thrissur that began on Saturday evening in solidarity with the Jantar Mantar protest in New Delhi

The blood of youths shed at protest sites at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi was crying out for justice, writer Sarah Joseph said, calling for a nationwide resistance against the alleged suppression of democratic rights and constitutional values. She was addressing a 24-hour satyagraha organised by the All India Students’ Federation (AISF) Thrissur district committee on Pattalam Road in Thrissur from Saturday evening (October 24, 2026).

Political equality, democracy and constitutional values had been undermined under the RSS-led dispensation, she alleged. Students and youth across the country were being forced to take to the streets to assert even their right to uphold the national flag, she said, accusing the authorities of deliberately creating conditions to disrupt such protests.

Ms. Joseph alleged that RSS activists were being brought into protest venues to target women and girl students, indulging even in sexual harassment. Left student and youth organisations, along with other groups, were conducting peaceful protests in the national capital following Gandhian principles, but attempts were being made behind the scenes to suppress and sabotage their agitations, she said. “There must be a strong public outcry against this. Every part of the country must turn into a Jantar Mantar,” she said.

Describing the developments in Delhi as a blatant violation of the fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution, Ms. Joseph alleged that the government was deploying its repressive machinery to prevent dissent from emerging on the streets. The Modi government would eventually have to bow before the fighting spirit of students and young people, she said. The younger generation, which was taking to the streets without waiting for calls to action and demonstrating a strong democratic consciousness, offered hope for the future, she added.

Repeated attempts at repression were only making society more fearless, she said, warning the government against underestimating the role of young people in protecting Indian democracy. The satyagraha began with a percussion performance led by Kalamandalam Ranju Panjal and his troupe. Poet Engandiyur Chandrasekharan recited his poem ‘Theeppattu’.

CPI national council member and MLA K. Rajan, artist K.G. Babu and AISF district secretary Mithun Pottakkaran addressed the gathering. AISF district vice-president Alan Paul Varghese presided over the function. CPI national executive member K.P. Rajendran, State Secretariat member and MLA K.K. Valsaraj, State executive members V.S. Sunilkumar and Rajaji Mathew Thomas, senior CPI leader C.N. Jayadevan, district secretary K.G. Sivanandan, AIYF general secretary Dinesh Seerangara, and several leaders of mass organisations attended the event.

Representatives of AITUC, the Kerala Mahila Sangham, AIYF, the BKMU, the Pravasi Federation, the KGOF and Yuvakala Sahithi held rallies in solidarity with the protesters. Songs and protest anthems were performed under the leadership of Yuvakala Sahithi district secretary Soman Thamarakkulam. Cultural programmes were also presented. Poet Engandiyur Chandrasekharan lit the cultural solidarity flame organised by Yuvakala Sahithi at the venue. The 24-hour satyagraha concluded on Sunday with the hoisting of the national flag.