An opinion article published on Nayaindia.com has sparked controversy by alleging that the Narendra Modi-Amit Shah government views protesters as ‘cockroaches’ to be crushed. The piece, written by Harishankar Vyas, compares the government’s handling of past protests—including the farmers’ movement, Gujarat Patels’ agitation, and the Shaheen Bagh demonstrations—to exterminating pests. It claims that police and the judiciary are being used to suppress dissent, with judges potentially labeling citizens as ‘cockroaches.’ The article further alleges that the government’s strategy involves dehumanizing protesters, particularly Muslims and Dalits, and creating a narrative of lawlessness to justify crackdowns. It contrasts this with the Manmohan Singh era, which it describes as a time when citizens were not treated as subhuman. The piece has drawn sharp reactions, with critics accusing it of sensationalism and supporters saying it reflects reality.
Article and image source: nayaindia.com
