Cockroach Janata Party leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka have been released after the SEM Court granted them bail. The two were granted bail seven days later after withdrawing their petition from the Delhi High Court and filing a fresh petition in the SEM Court. Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka are known as Gen-G leaders. They held a symbolic protest by waving the tricolor at Jantar Mantar after it was de-notified for protests. The Delhi Police arrested them and initially detained them for five days, then extended their detention for two more days. The Delhi Police wanted to extend their detention, but the SEM released them on bail. During this entire process, a question posed by the Delhi High Court to these CJP leaders became a topic of discussion. The High Court asked them, “What are your ages?” The lawyers stated that Ashutosh Ranka was 32, and Saurav Das was 27. The High Court judge then remarked, “Your age doesn’t even fall within the “Gen-Z” category; it’s above that. So what’s the purpose of your protest?” While this was a mere comment, it certainly sparked a debate about who the Gen-Z is. In fact, not only in India but in approximately eight countries around the world, youth are currently on the streets, protesting for better living conditions and quality education, and against the inequities of life. These protests are sometimes turning violent. Roughly speaking, Gen-Z and Gen-Alpha are divided by age brackets: Gen-Z includes collegeage youth aged 22-24, and Gen-Alpha includes school-age students aged 15-16. Should we call this teen power or youth power? When the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) held its first protest in India in July, it was about the paper leak issue, but it went far beyond the party’s scope because the paper leak issue involved youth across the country. This massive protest led to the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The current movement demands the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, accusing him of alleged vote-rigging. India’s opposition parties have recognized the fervor of this emerging youth power, so they jumped into the fray before the opposition could even address it. The government, too, acted cautiously, preventing the youth power from taking hold in Delhi with the help of a heavy police force. Usually, such symbolic protests don’t result in detention, but due to the fear of the Gen-Z movement, these two leaders had to endure seven days of detention. The court raised the question, “Your age is above Gen-Z, so this protest issue isn’t yours.” Leaders are claiming that the Constitution grants us the right to vocal expression and peaceful protest. Protesting isn’t limited to any particular age group. In our view, the issue is about protecting democracy, but the uproar over threats of government change shows the movement has derailed.
Who Could be Gen-Z?
