10-point Chargesheet was released charging the government with causing massive fee hikes and unemployment, imposing anti-student CUET, FYUP, and carrying out an assault on minorities and scientific temperament while compromising social justice and social justice. An accompanying Student Youth Charter was also issued by various progressive student organisations.
The government was accused of attacking minorities and scientific behaviour while compromising social justice and imposing anti-student policies like FYUP and CUET, among other things, in a 10-point chargesheet that was made public. A companion Student Youth Charter was also released by a number of progressive student associations.
Also read: All India Students Association conducted Young India Referendum at various colleges in India
Jhumla Nahi Jawaab Do, Das Saal ka Hisaab Do
“Jhumla Nahi Jawaab Do, Das Saal ka Hisaab Do” and “10 years of Modi Govt, 10 questions of Young India” were among the slogans used. The “Young India Referendum” was held at several affiliated colleges, hostels, and student organisations listed below:
- Delhi University
- University of Allahabad
- Veer Kunwar Singh University (Ara)
- Patna University, BN Mandal University (Bihar)
- Lalit Narayan Mithila University (Bihar)
- Jamia Milia Islamia
- Ambedkar University Delhi
- SK University (Andhra Pradesh)
- Dr. Abdul Haq Urdu University (Andhra Pradesh)
- University of Hyderabad
- Bengaluru University
- Sri Krishnadevaraya University (Karnataka)
- Periyar University
- Jadavpur University (Kolkata)
- Calcutta University
- ICFAI University (Tripura)
- Hemchand Yadav University (Chhattisgarh)
- Azim Premji University
- Manipal University
- other affiliated colleges, hostels, and student organisations.
With the general elections scheduled for 2024, the referendum sought to gather the thoughts of young people and students. The referendum comes after a nationwide signature drive in which job seekers and students asked the Modi-led Central Government ten questions about its ten years in office.
Young India Referendum
Students enthusiastically participated in the Young India referendum, casting their votes in favour of affordable education and respectable jobs. The referendum covered issues like annual fee increases, the availability of hostels and scholarships for underprivileged students, and the Central Government’s pledge to create 2 crore jobs annually.
In the nationwide referendum, which received roughly one lakh votes, 88.33% of students said they opposed the annual fee increase. Approximately 86% of students disagreed, with 91% voting “no,” that the Central Government has been able to produce 2 crore jobs annually or that sufficient hostels and scholarships have been available for students in need.
Result of Young India Referendum
“There is a loud rejection of youth and students. We are rejecting the corporate assault on jobs and education, along with the divisive policies of communalism and hatred! There has never been a more audible call for education and respectable work!” stated by Young India.
Leaders and members of the movement voice out their points
During the press conference, activist and teacher Dr. Laxman Yadav said to the audience, “Our campuses are being turned into prisons. I am a former professor because the University didn’t want democratic-minded people inside the campus and this project is being made universal.”
Women’s rights and citizenship activist Natasha Narwal stated: “education has an emancipatory purpose. Students must learn critical thinking and start to question social injustice. However, the current regime has actively sought to destroy this aspect of a public education.”
The SAU movement’s student activist Apoorva spoke with the media as well, stating that “Young India’s call for a democratic India begins with holding the government accountable. We need jobs and quality education, not communal polarisation.”
Various student-youth organisations and movements leaders also spoke at the press conference: Vijay, Vice President of the Chhatra Sabha, Ahmed, President of MSF, Apoorva Prashant Kamal, General Secretary of Yuva Halla Bol; Dinesh, General Secretary of AISF; Amit Singh from AISB; Niraj, General Secretary of RYA; Adarsh, Joint Secretary of SFI; Nilasis, President of AISA; and Saunkha from PSU. Everyone decided to support Young India by incorporating an increasing number of organisations and movements!
The plans of Young India
“The message is clear – the erosion of public-funded higher education institutes, attack on democratic spaces, assault on dissenting voices, inaccessibility of education, and lack of dignified employment – shall no longer be tolerated,” – Young India
The forum of progressive student organisations and people’s movements, Young India, has called a “Chalo Delhi, Young India Rally” on February 28, 2024, with the slogan “2024 Ka Agenda, Tay Karega Young India’. This is a clear call to action for the nation’s youth and students to gather in Delhi to oppose the BJP-RSS in the next Lok Sabha elections.
As per the input from the National President of AISA, NILASIS BOSE
by Swapnil Angel Samad