New Delhi: A participant identified as Mohammed Danish, who said he had travelled from Australia, drew attention during the protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar after explaining that he had joined the demonstration despite having no personal connection with the competitive examination issues that triggered the movement.
In a conversation with a YouTuber Sarthak Goswami during the protest, Danish was asked why he had travelled from Australia to participate in the agitation. He reportedly showed his passport when questioned about his identity and clarified that he had not appeared for the NEET examination and had no personal stake in the examination process.
Instead, he said his decision to join the protest stemmed from broader concerns over what he described as the government’s unwillingness to engage with protesters.
Danish alleged that the government was acting in an authoritarian manner and criticised its refusal to hold talks with those leading the movement. Referring to the ongoing hunger strike by protest leaders, he said it was disappointing that dialogue had yet to begin despite the prolonged protest.
Sarthak noted that while the agitation had initially centred on issues related to education and examination paper leaks, it had evolved into a broader movement attracting people motivated by different concerns. According to him, participants had joined the protest over issues ranging from poverty and corruption to education and communal harmony.
During the exchange, the interviewer suggested that Danish’s primary concern was communalism and alleged that Muslims were being unfairly targeted. Danish’s own remarks in the conversation, however, focused on what he described as authoritarian governance and the need for dialogue between the government and protesters.
The interaction highlighted how the Jantar Mantar protest has attracted support beyond students directly affected by examination-related issues. Alongside candidates and youth organisations, the movement has drawn participation from civil society members, professionals and members of the Indian diaspora who say they are concerned about broader questions of governance and democratic rights.
