Prashant Kishor said the movement had gone beyond political affiliations.
NEW DELHI: Jan Suraaj founder and Bankipur assembly by-election candidate Prashant Kishor on Sunday described Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation as the “beginning of accountability”, asserting that sustained public pressure had compelled the government to act.Addressing reporters, Kishor said the movement had gone beyond political affiliations and demonstrated that public mobilisation could force those in power to respond.”This is the beginning of accountability. Accountability is being enforced under public pressure. I always say that in this country, the opposition party can be weak. The opposition cannot be weak,” he said.Expressing support for those opposing what he termed the government’s “undemocratic behaviour”, Kishor said the issue was larger than any single political party.
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“We stand with anyone who wants to challenge this government’s undemocratic behaviour and their work. Sonam Wangchuk is my friend. He’s a prominent academic, environmentalist, and friend of ours. This isn’t about a party; people have seen that if people stand up, if the public rises, even those in power will have to bow down,” he said.Referring to the ongoing protests in Delhi, Kishor said they reflected widespread public anger rather than the agenda of any one organisation. “What you and I are seeing in Delhi wasn’t a protest by one Sonam Wangchuk. The thousands of people who came to protest didn’t carry CJP flags. They were ordinary young people, frustrated by the daily paper leaks, unemployment, and the crumbling education system,” he said.Commenting on the arrest of Janshakti Janata Dal national president Tej Pratap Yadav, Kishor alleged that the action reflected the government’s nervousness.”Tej Pratap announced his support yesterday, and at 1.30 am last night, Tej Pratap was arrested and sent to Beur Jail. This shows how scared these people are. Under what section was he arrested? Why was he arrested? The police administration should explain this,” he was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.Kishor claimed Pradhan’s resignation was only the beginning and suggested that the agitation would continue.”Dharmendra Pradhan had to leave, and that’s not all, this is just the beginning. This isn’t going to stop,” he added.Kishor also raised objections to an order issued by the district magistrate regarding election awareness activities involving Jeevika Didis. He urged the election commission and its observers to take note of the matter and initiate action.”The District Magistrate issued order. In which he stated that Jeevika Didi, would work for election awareness. We hope that the Election Commission, their observers, will take cognizance of this matter, and take action,” he said.He warned that if no action was taken by Monday, he and his supporters would stage a protest outside the Election Commission’s office.”If action isn’t taken by tomorrow, we will go to the Election Commission and sit on a protest at their gate, along with my colleagues,” Kishor said.
